Author's Note: Hello! Here's another chapter of Skyward Sword! This one oughta be fun and Zelda is crazy with always pushing Link of the platform 0.o

Chapter 2: The Wing Ceremony

I searched far and wide for my Loftwing but I couldn't find the crimson bird. I even asked the few people that were on the bridge however all they ever talked about was how they had to laundry and such.

I spotted Orielle, standing on a few stairs.

"What's up, Link? You seem to be in a hurry…"

I nodded. "Have you seen my Loftwing? When I called to summon the bird, he didn't answer."

"Oh that unusual Crimson Loftwing… Have I seen him? I'm sorry. I haven't."

I lowered my head, upset.

The girl seemed to have an idea since she said that to go to look for him by the Statue of the Goddess. "It'll have a good view of the whole town from way up there."

"Thanks, Orielle."

"Not a problem."

I started to run up and down but when I reached the small cliff that I can run up, I saw the kitty again. Nevertheless, I ignored it. I ran even faster when I saw that the Statue of the Goddess was near and just as I was about to reach to the top, a voice called. In result, I halted.

"Hey, Link!"

I turned to see two guys standing near the building. "Over here!"

"I have some information about your Loftwing. Come over here!" Hope had risen inside of me and I jogged down to reach them.

"Fledge? What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised. Fledge looked down, ashamed. I looked at him curiously and turned towards Pipit.

"Hey, Link! I was just looking for you. I heard your Loftwing has gone missing, so I thought I'd join in the search."

"Please tell me you have found him." I pleaded.

"We have found the location of where your Loftwing is. Fledge here started to act weird if he knew where your Loftwing is."

"Fledge?" I asked, a bit shocked.

"I'm so sorry, Link! I really wanted to tell you, but…if Groose found out I told you…"

Groose. How I hated that guy.

"It sounds like Groose forced him to keep quiet about it." Pipit continued which made me to frown. "Go on! Tell him the truth." Pipit urged him.

Fledge told me how when he was cleaning the dining hall, Groose and his buddies came in. When they didn't notice him, they started to talk about their plan to hide my Loftwing.

"I wanted to warn you, Link. But just as I tried to sneak away…Groose and his gang grabbed me." he resumed talking about how they threatened him saying if he ever told me, they'd make sure he would never be able to ride a bird ever again.

"I understand, Fledge. But thank you for telling me." I said.

Fledge put on a smile. "Thanks for accepting."

"It sounds like Groose and his buddies had a plan to capture your bird and hide him near a waterfall." Pipit interrupted our conversation of apologizes.

"Waterfall?" I repeated.

"Yes; well, near a waterfall would mean…" Pipit then told me where the waterfall was.

"Forgive me, Link! I can't help being such a coward…I'm really sorry."

"It's ok Fledge. The important thing was that you told the truth and if anything, it's Groose that is the coward."

I then ran off but before I did Pipit warned me how there are some dangerous things there; mostly creepy, crawling things. He told me how I needed a sword to carry. Pipit also mentioned that he saw the Knight Commander in the Sparring Hall.

"You should go ask him if you can borrow one!"

Heading to the building which was next to us, I was greeted by the Commander Eagus.

Eagus greeted and told me how he was impressed that I still wanted to learn some sword skills even though today is the Wing's Ceremony. After grabbing the sword from the back room, the Commander began to explain the basics of the sword. He told me how there was a vertical slash, side slash, thrust and a spin attack.

I faced a log that a vertical line between it. Taking out my sword, I swung my sword in a vertical way. The log was cut clean as it fell down in half. I made my way to the next where it had line in the middle. I used the side slash and like before I cut it cleanly.

I continued to do this and after I destroyed all the logs, I went up Eagus and Eagus told me if I was ready to a spin attack. I nodded and the Commander explained that he would surround me with logs and naturally, I would need to cut them all without moving from that spot in which I was in the circle that was in the middle of the room.

Tall logs surrounded me and I was prepared. Focusing on it, I swung my sword around and it eliminated all the logs.

"Good one!" Eagus shouted, proudly. "That sure looked like it felt good!"

I smiled. "It did."

Frankly, I was releasing my anger on the logs and I had imagined that the logs were Groose.

I proceeded to do a fatal blow on the log that was in front of me. I did a side slash and half of the log fell down to the ground. I leaped into the air and struck the log cleanly, straight in the middle. In result, the log was split apart. I then did a flip backwards, going away from it.

"That's the way! A fatal blow is also an effective move to use right after you've used your shield or a well-placed spin attack to knock an enemy on its back. Oh, but monsters don't say down for long, so you'll have to swing the sword quickly before they get back on their feet!"

I said my farewell and made my way towards the door. But the Commander caught me, saying how I can't take swords outside of the Sparring Hall.

"But sir, I need it." I started. "You see, my Loftwing went missing and I need to go look for it."

"Oh? Well I guess I could make an exception just this once. But remember that Skyloft is a peaceful place. Only knights carry swords! So I don't want to see you swinging it around like crazy out there! I don't want to get in a ton of trouble over this, so here's the deal…" he began to explain if I do plenty of practice on the logs first and once I get outside with that sword, I only have to use it when I absolutely need to.

I exited out of the room but before I could go further a bizarre odd-like stone emerged out of the ground. It had one pink eye while there were a few intricate patterns that were imprinted on the stone.

"Hey, friend! Walk yourself on over here and say hello."

I cautiously took a few steps toward the weird-like figure. "Hi?"

"How do you do? I'm what you call a Sheikah Stone. Glad to meet you!"

"Me too, I guess."

But the stone seemed to ignore the comment since it continued to talk.

"I'm a stone of few words, so I'll get right to it. You're going to find yourself in puzzling circumstances as you make your way through this world. If you should find yourself stuck and you have no idea how to move forward, come see me. I've got nothing for you right now, but down the road when you're feeling stuck, the things I'll show you may just get you back on the right track. Good luck out there, friend!"

Weird.

Shrugging, I continued through the path to find my Loftwing. When I reached the nearby waterfall, I jumped on the rock platform to the next until I was on the other side. I turned to my right to climb the hill and I noticed that there were wooden bars that blocked the entrance to the cave.

Hurriedly, I ran towards it and once I came to it, my eyes went wide as I saw my Loftwing being stuck in there; it was more like a "vision". Determined, I broke the bars and entered inside.

It wasn't much, other than being dimly lighted and some strange weird-like creatures infested this place. Strange bat-like creatures would come to attempt to assault me but they would be easily be dispatched as I did a quick spin attack at them. I resumed walking but it wasn't until then that a peculiar blue-monster that seemed to be made out of water by itself latched onto my legs, sinking its teeth at one of my ankles.

I attacked it and slightly ignored the pain in my ankle; the blood continued to bleed out. Nevertheless, finding my bird was more important right now and I would get that ankle fixed up, I suppose.

As I continued, I spotted a small shadow that was crawling around and it seemed to be underneath the ground. I ignored, thinking that it wouldn't harm me. More of those, blue and the bat-like monsters appeared as I ventured further in. This time, I was careful as I battled them which lead me to be in victory.

Further and further in, there would be sharp pointy rocks that would stick out from the ground that sort of resembled like a stalagmite but the downside way with the base on the ground. Small, medium and large puddles would scattered every now and then but it gave me an idea that maybe this place had been flooded but somehow the water was out of the cave but leaving only medium size puddles.

On occasionally, there would be some vines in which I had to climb onto them but usually, it would be just a flat solid surface. I destroyed those pesky creatures that would be shown up from time to time. I would wince as I needed my injured foot to help me up.

The light came into the view, indicated that I was at the end of the cavern. I was still worried about my Loftwing and I wondered if the Loftwing wasn't hurt or anything. Groose would pay big time if anything had happened to my crimson bird.

I exited out of the cavern and a voice called to me.

"Link!" I turned towards the sky and saw the familiar purple Loftwing, descending to the land of where I was.

"Zelda." I began.

"Hey, Link. I was hoping I'd find you here. I heard you'd gone searching for your bird around the waterfall, so I thought I'd fly around and help you look. How's your search going? Any sign of your Loftwing?"

"I saw a vision, I guess you could say that. It was being trapped inside the cave but I didn't find it so I guess it's along that path." I pointed to my right.

"Oh, I see. Well, let's not lose hope yet. There's a place up ahead that Groose and his gang are always hanging around. Maybe we'll find something there!"

"I hope so too." I replied, upset. I really wanted my bird back.

"Huh…?"

Zelda then looked down at the clouds. A strange voice was whispering at her and she was listening intently. Was someone calling her? If so, who was it? It wasn't Link for sure.

It sounded more feminine…

"Who's…who's that? Who's calling for me?" Zelda asked, particularly to no one.

For a moment, I had a feeling that maybe she had forgotten that I was still here so I cleared my throat.

"Zelda? No one is…?" I said but I wasn't so sure myself.

"Oh, sorry, Link. I got distracted for a moment. Let's go!" I descended the downhill to reach the other side but as soon as I did, I gasped.

"Look! There he is!" Zelda pointed it out. "No doubt that's your Loftwing, Link!"

In front of us, was indeed my crimson Loftwing but he was encase in a small cave that was on the underside of the island. I dashed towards my caged bird and I took out my sword. However, I noticed that there were ropes on the wooden gate. I cut the ropes and carefully destroyed the gate which in the end, released my Loftwing.

The bird gave out a small screech, alerting its master that he was alright. He then released his beautiful wings, giving out another screech. The bird lowered his head and I patted its head, happy that I had found it.

"Hey beautiful. I've found you." I whispered in its ear.

The Loftwing gave a playful nudge to its Master and I chuckled. He flapped its wings, creating small dust and I used my arms to shield my face so it won't go into my eyes. And then, the magnificent bird took off, stretching out its wings.

I ran ahead, grabbing the view as the bird flew. The Loftwing flew gracefully as I watched and I smiled at it.

"We should hurry, Link. Now that your Loftwing is free, you should fly to the ceremony…" Zelda said, walking to me.

"I believe we should."

Just as I was about to jump off, Zelda started to speak.

"But before you go, I have to ask you something. I…I heard this voice a few moments ago. Did you hear it too?"

"I'm not really sure…" I replied.

Zelda gazed out beyond the clouds, feeling the wind's breeze brushing our clothes and hairs.

"It's been happening a lot lately. It's the strangest feeling… Almost like someone is calling out to me."

I was almost reminded painfully as the dream from last night flashed back inside my mind. The tiny voice kept on saying how it is time to be awakened. Zelda's voice brought me back to reality.

"Have you ever wondered what's beneath the clouds?" she wondered.

I did remember reading about that and it was called the surface. Zelda began to explain how some people say that it's an empty, barren place or even that there's nothing at all down below, but she just have this feeling that they're wrong. She told me how some of her father's old texts talked about a place called the surface.

"The old tales describe a whole world under there, far more vast than Skyloft!" she stated, excitedly. "The thing is, no one's ever been down there to see it, and our Loftwings won't fly through the cloud barrier…But I can't help imagining the wild things that might be waiting below. Someday, I want to see for myself."

"Maybe you will." I responded. "But just not now." I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell my odd dream yet.

It was silent as we gazed out in the clouds. It was then Zelda interrupted it.

"Oh, sorry Link. We don't have time to talk! Let's get going. Look; your bird's waiting for you! Your bird will catch you for sure this time!"

With that, Zelda jumped off the edge and whistled. Her bird gracefully caught her and she began to swoop through the air. I also jumped off the edge and whistled. This time, my crimson bird indeed came, catching me

"Race you!" I called which made Zelda to giggle.

"Ok!"

We raced. Zelda was ahead of me but I was sure that I wasn't going to let her beat me. Sensing the master's urgency, the bird flew faster than before and the wind was beating against my face. I really loved my bird. Before Zelda knew it, she turned to face sideways and blinked with surprise as she saw me beside her.

I smiled but behind that smile, it was a smirk.

No sooner or later, I had won the race as landed on the ground with Zelda following me.

"Ha! I beat you!" I exclaimed.

She laughed. "Alright, you! Your Loftwing looks like he's flying great. My father and the others are probably worried about your bird, so let's go give them the good news! I'm going to fly back and tell Father what happened."

She then took off.

Unaware, someone started to walk towards me.

"Well, well, if it isn't Link!"

I whirled around and saw it was Groose; I really shouldn't be so surprised though.

"What do you want?" I said a bit coldly.

"Word around the plaza is that you found that dumb bird of yours."

"He's not dumb!" I snapped.

Groose chuckled low. "Well, that's just great. Because you and your dumb bird can't tell time, all the prerace warm-ups me and the guys did were for nothin'. Now I'm all stiff."

"Aww poor you." I mocked.

He rambled on and on how it was delayed and it was for me. "I don't get it. The big flake gets special treatment?" he then scoffed angrily. "You're almost a man, and yet you still can't seem to go anywhere without Zelda."

I smirked. "Jealous much? Besides, I would much rather have Zelda to hang out with me than a clown like you."

He snarled. "Why you! I bet you can't even decide what to have for lunch on your own, huh? And don't think we haven't noticed the smug looks. 'Ooh, Zelda and I are best friends. We go everywhere together.' Ugh! You think you're pretty suave, don't you? Well? Don't you?!"

"Well, I am a better person."

"Yeah right."

The two cronies talked behind his back, saying how Groose had been going on forever about he's gonna be the one to be with Zelda and such. The two cronies after laughed.

"I hate to break it to you, but today's the day I bust up this adorable little fantasyland you're living in."

I groaned inwardly. Won't he ever shut up? I could honestly care less about this but I do care about Zelda. I don't want the clown to be with her.

I laughed inwardly when Groose stated that he will be the one to claim that sailcloth, not some scrawny clown.

Well then.

"Oh yes, that Sailcloth—Zelda's Sailcloth—will be mine! Duh huh huh…"

Freakzoid.

i almost gagged when Groose said how he bet she was thinking about him when she was stitching it. I stifled my laugh.

He rambled on and on how it would be their special moment alone with nobody stopping them from having their moment. He laughed happily at the scene that was going on his mind.

"Groose! Psst, Groose!" One of his cronies said. "Behind you! Right behind you!"

"What?! Can't you two see I'm in the middle of—"he gave out a gasp of surprise to see Zelda standing behind him, looking unpleasant.

"Care to explain just what you meant by 'our special moment alone'"? Zelda asked, her hands on her hips. I snickered as he was busted.

"I…uh, nothing big, really. Just…Just…"

I was deeply amused from the scene being displayed.

"Link!" I blinked with startle. "Yeah, I was just telling my buddy here how glad I was he found that red bird of his. Boy, am I looking forward to a fair race."

Buddy? I had an incredulous look. Looking forward?

"Now wait a minute-"I started but got cut off by Groose.

"Anyhow, later Zelda. Look for me during the race. I'll be the one pulling off all the dangerous moves."

They then walked off which left me to steam badly. "Dangerous moves? Yeah right! He wouldn't be able to pull it off! He would probably fly off his bird! And I wonder how his bird can even carry him due to his weight!" I exclaimed, furiously.

"Yeah, I know. The chances of that happening are just about less than zero." Zelda said, unaware that I had insulted Groose but she may have heard it. "Either way, don't let those fools get you down, Link! Just get out there and fly the best you can! I know you've got these guys beat, and deep down I think you do too."

I seemed to be cooled off and smiled. "Thanks, Zelda. I know I can do it."

The bell rang with a voice shouting.

"The Wing Ceremony will now begin! Participating students, please assemble!"

After saying good luck to me, I took off to join the other students.

The sun was beating down hotly and there were three Loftwings with green, red and purple streaks trailing behind them going in straight lines. They then separated from their Master's orders. One of them came from the downside while the other two came from left and right and then with perfect timing, they zoomed towards the sky.

"Your attention, please." Owlan said. "At last we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony. I was beginning to worry that we'd have to proceed without Link, but luckily that is no longer a concern." he then went on to explain the rules for the competition.

He had attached a small statuette to this bird which he will release to the sky. On his signal, we will dash and dive off the ledge. Once we are in the air, we would mount on our Loftwings.

"Remember to call your bird promptly once you dive off the edge."

He continued to explain that whoever catches the bird and claims the statuette will be this year's champion. That had got all of us to be excited but Groose smirked since he knew that he would be the champion this year. He finished talking about the rules and he told us how that today's champion will graduate to the next class, bringing him one step closer to knighthood.

"He will also receive a gift from the young woman chosen to play the role of the goddess in this year's ritual. Today is a special day for many reasons, but it is also the 25th anniversary of our fine institution. To celebrate the occasion, today's champion shall also receive his gift high atop the Statue of the Goddess."

Zelda giggled when her name was mentioned when Owlan said that the role of the goddess will be performed by her. Groose chuckled whereas I rolled my eyes as Owlan began to clarify if anyone was caught interfering with the other riders, we will answer to him.

"That goes double for you, Groose!" the headmaster shouted sternly, startling Groose.

I smirked. The bird took off as Owlan spoke.

"All right, gentlemen, line up. At my command, the competition will begin!" we lined up, having determined faces.

"GO!"

We raced towards the ledge and jumped off. We called our birds and each of the birds caught us. Automatically spotting the golden Loftwing, I urged my Loftwing to go faster. I did some swoops and dives. Groose noticed this and humphed while muttering "show off."

I gazed at him and sneered as I made a dive downward.

However, when he muttered, he found that I was gone and grinned widely since he thought that I had probably got lost or whatever. Just then, Groose gave a shout of startle as something swooped up beside him and he was nearly knocked off.

I chuckled as Groose spotted me.

"Sorry; I didn't see you there!" I shouted, making Groose to be angry. I dashed faster and saw that the bird was only a few meters away. Seeing this, Groose made his bird to go faster and once he was beside me, the boy shoved my bird roughly to the side which caused me to almost lose my balance.

I glared at Groose who was taunting me. We both made our birds to go faster and at last, I noticed that I was so close to grab the statuette so I strained my arm.

The bully shoved me again and that made me to lose my path, causing me to go off course. Quickly, I was back in the game and was once again close to the bird with Groose not too far behind me.

"Hey! Don't you know this is my day to get all the glory?" Groose yelled but I was hardly paying attention to him since I was more focused on getting that statuette.

Groose flew towards me and promptly knocked my bird off so that I wouldn't be able to catch it.

"Yeah, you heard him! Let's see how you fly with egg on your face!" one of the cronies replied but I had forgotten his name. Luckily, I dodged all of the eggs and continued to fly.

A few more strains and I narrowly missed the flying egg and…

At last!

I grabbed the Bird Statuette. A goofy smiled was plastered on my face since I knew that I had won.

"Link!" Zelda shouted.

"I won Zelda! I won!" I yelled with victory. "I wo- ZELDA!" I swooshed hurriedly to catch Zelda who had just jumped off the edge.

Just in time, I caught her.

"What were you thinking?"

Zelda giggled. "Don't worry—I'm fine! Great flying, Link! Congratulations! Now we'd better get on with the ceremony!"

We kept on flying until we reached the Statue of the Goddess and landed.

"Link, hand me that Bird Statuette you grabbed in the race. I must offer it to the goddess." she said and I gave it to her.

Zelda placed the small bird in a hole of the statue that was fit enough. She took out her harp and sweet indescribable music filled the air and I was slightly swaying to it. Zelda put it back and took her hand out. Instantly, I placed my hand on hers and went down on one knee.

"Great goddess, guiding light and protector of our people, grant us your blessing and mercy as I act in your stead during this ceremony. Valiant youth who grasped victory at the celebration of the bird folk…In accordance with the old ways…I now bestow the blessings of the goddess upon you."

Zelda untied the knot from the white cloth and folded neatly. The emblem of the triforce was in the middle of the cloth. I looked up to see the cloth.

"The blessings of the goddess drift down from the heavens aloft a sail, which I now pass on to you." I then took it, doing a dramatic pose. "Link! Quit goofing. This is supposed to be a sacred ritual, remember?"

I chuckled. "I know." But I can tell in her eyes that she was amused.

"You know, they say that the goddess gave the Sailcloth to her chosen hero long ago. Of course, the one you're holding isn't the same one. I've been working hard to finish making this Sailcloth in time to give it to today's champion."

"Well, it's beautiful." I commented.

She smiled. "I'm really glad I got to give it to you, Link. Make sure you take good care of it, ok?"

"I will; I promise."

She then thanked me for making it up here to do this with her today like I promised. I nodded, smiling.

"Now we should really finish this ritual. You…do know what happens at the end, right?" Zelda asked, coming a bit closer to him.

"Um no I don't know." I replied, cautiously.

"Really? Huh. I thought you would've figured it out by now." I was still confused since I didn't know where this was going. Zelda came close to me and I leaned back a bit. Without a warning, Zelda shoved me and I turned around.

"You have to jump off the statue!"

I blinked. "What?" I said, staring down below me.

"Look down. See that big, round design on the courtyard below? To finish the ceremony, you need to drop down right into the center of it! But don't worry! You will have your Sailcloth to prevent painful landings."

The word painful landing brought me back to where the creature had bit my ankle. I looked down at my ankle and saw that there was only dry blood. I had completely forgotten about it since I was so focused on the race today.

After Zelda said that I would wait until the last second to use my Sailcloth, she asked me if I was ready to jump. I didn't had enough time to answer since Zelda pushed me off the ledge.

Flying down, I observed that my landing was a bit too off and didn't made the landing the first time. After calling my Loftwing from jumping off a ledge nearby, I was on the top of the platform where Zelda said that she wouldn't push me this time. I glanced down and aimed my landing. When I was sure that I had got it, I jumped off.

I flew a bit to the right when I noted that I was a bit off but I fixed it. At the right moment, I used my Sailcloth and I landed on the middle.

Zelda came off her Loftwing and ran at me.

"That was perfect! You're amazing, Link!"

My heart fluttered when she said that. "T-thanks."

We stared into each other's eyes while my bird flew down beside me.

"You know, Link, seeing as how you won today…And with the weather being so nice…You think maybe you'd like to you know, go fly around the clouds together?"

I smiled. "Of course."

She giggled and we were on their Loftwings, gliding beside each other. We were quiet, enjoying the wind blowing at our faces. I was glad that I had won otherwise I wouldn't enjoy this beautiful moment.

"Link…" Zelda called my name. I turned around to face Zelda. "Today was amazing. Watch you win the race and performing the ritual together…I'll always remember this."

I smiled softly. "It was more amazing when I had the time to spend it with you."

Zelda blushed slightly and she looked away to hide the blush. "It really was wonderful. You know…Link…There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about…"

I stared at her but before she could finish the sentence, a sudden blast interrupted her and the blast alerted the birds.

"What is that?"

A huge dirty-color tornado appeared right in front of us and it seemed to be drawing us closer to it but we were trying to hold it back.

"What's going on?" Zelda gasped, trying to save herself and the bird.

"I…I don't know!"

It seemed to be drawing Zelda closer as she was being pulled towards it. All of a sudden, Zelda got thrown back from her Loftwing and she fell down to the tornado. She screamed for me who was shocked and wasted no time. I automatically flew faster, hoping to get Zelda back. Suddenly, almost as if it was an invisible force, it blasted me right off my bird and the world was beginning to spin around and around…

Until I knew no more.

Author's Note: Dun dun dun… Oh boy; Zelda's gone and Link's unconsciousness! Yay Link won! Another chapter being long! Score! The next one will be long too! I think…