Chapter 2: The Childhood Friend and the Crimson Loftwing
Zoey nervously turned around and saw a man who wore an orange tunic with an orange hat with its top leaning down like what a Christmas elf wore during that famous holiday with his hands on his hips.
"Just who are you supposed to be, hmm?" The man asked sternly. "Um… Well…" Zoey stammered, trying to think up an excuse to get her out of this situation.
"Oh, I get it! You're a new maid looking for a job in Skyloft, aren't you?" The man closed his eyes and smiled. "Um…" Zoey smiled nervously. "Yeah, but what is Skyloft really?" Zoey asked him.
"You mean you never heard of Skyloft? Hmm…" The man rubbed his chin. "Well, I can't blame ya since you're new here. Skyloft is a land floating below the surface." The man stated.
"The surface…?" Zoey blinked. "Yep, long ago, the surface was filled with evil monsters who want to take over everything. But then, the goddess managed to save our ancestors by sending us up the sky, we founded Skyloft in honor of the goddess who protected us from the monsters. Since then, there have been stories of the surface." The man explained.
"I see…" Zoey nodded. "Um… Is it alright if I go see the Statue of the Goddess to uh… pray to the goddess for protecting us?" Zoey asked nervously. "I don't see why not. Go ahead. But after that, go see Headmaster Gaepora to see that job offer." The man smiled.
"Thank you." Zoey bowed politely as she ran up the crates and used her cat like reflexes to get to the top and ran up to the area where the Statue of the Goddess is.
(With Link)
Link walked toward the center of a huge statue of a woman holding a harp. He noticed a young woman with yellow hair and pigtails, wears pink red clothes with a white clothe on it and holding a golden harp. The woman began to sing.
"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess… Unite earth and sky… Bring light to the land…" Link smiled as he walked up to the young woman, the young woman turned to notice Link and she smiled as she turned around and faced him.
"Hey! Good morning, Link." The young woman greeted. "Good morning to you, too, Zelda." Link closed his eyes and smiled. "I'm glad to see my Loftwing got you out of bed. I was pretty sure you'd sleep in and forgot to meet me this morning." Zelda stated.
"Sorry about that, Zelda. You know how I am, a heavy sleeper." Link rubbed the back of his head nervously. Zelda hold up the harp. "But look at this instrument! And look at this outfit! They're mine to use today in the ceremony, since I'll be playing the role of the goddess." Zelda laughed cheerfully.
"Really, that's great!" Link smiled. "Aren't they beautiful? Especially this instrument! They tell me it's just like the one the goddess was said to have in the legends. It sounds gorgeous too. I asked Father about it, and he said it's called a harp." Zelda smiled as she showed Link the harp.
"Ah, it's a musical instrument." Link gasped in awe as he looked at the harp. "And look at these clothes! I made this wrap myself, and we get to use it in today's ceremony! Between this harp, and this outfit, I'm going to make a great goddess today!" Zelda beamed.
"I got you up early this morning because I wanted you to be the first to see me like this, Link!" Zelda twirled around and smiled. "So how do I look, Link?" Zelda asked playfully.
"You look great!" Link smiled. Zelda laughed cheerfully. "I think so too! But it's nice to know you agree. Thanks, Link." Zelda smiled. "Any time, Zelda." Link smiled back.
Zoey couldn't help but smile at the conversation Link and Zelda were having. Then, an old man who has white hair and a goatee, wore medieval orange clothes which makes him a headmaster of the school Zoey walked into walked up beside her.
"The Statue of the Goddess fascinates you, doesn't it?" The old man smiled. Zoey turned to face the old man. "Yes, it does. Who are you?" Zoey asked him.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Headmaster Gaepora, headmaster of the Skyloft Knight Academy. I see you eying Link and Zelda, miss…" Gaepora then ponders on Zoey's name. "Zoey, Zoey Hanson. It is very nice to meet you, Headmaster Gaepora." Zoey bowed politely.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Zoey. Why don't I introduce you to Link and Zelda? I bet they would be happy to meet a new friend." Gaepora suggested with a smile. "Sure. That will be nice." Zoey nodded as the two of them walked towards Link and Zelda.
"Ah, there you are, Zelda. Are you all prepared for today's ceremony?" Headmaster Gaepora smiled as he and Zoey walked up towards them. "Oh, hello, Father." Zelda greeted. Zoey looked at him in surprise. "You're her father? Wow…" Zoey gasped in awe.
"That's right. He's my father. Who are you?" Zelda asked Zoey. "Me? My name is Zoey Hanson." Zoey introduced herself. Link stared at Zoey's maid clothes. 'Such strange clothes…' Link thought to himself.
"Ah, Link, you're here too. Outstanding. It's encouraging to see you up so early, given your capacity for sleep. No doubt today's ceremony had you too excited to close your eyes for once!" Headmaster Gaepora laughed heartily. "You betcha! I don't want to miss this one bit!" Link grinned sheepishly.
"If you win today's ceremonial race, you'll get to participate in the postrace ritual with Zelda, so give it your best out there." Headmaster Gaepora smiled warmly at him. "I will." Link nodded.
Zelda looked down and said "Yes. About that…" "What's wrong?" Zoey asked in concern. Zelda looked up and said "Father, I don't know if he can do it! Recently, Link hasn't been practicing much at all for the ceremony! And even when he's out riding his Loftwing, he's just lazily gliding around. Probably daydreaming! I don't know what he's thinking. He's going to have to be in perfect control of his bird to win today." She finished worriedly.
"Zelda…" Link looked down in sadness. "Um, what are you talking about? What's a Loftwing?" Zoey asked, she was curious on what a Loftwing is. "You mean you don't know?" Zelda gasped. "A Loftwing is a companion for everyday life in Skyloft! They take you everywhere, and they helped out with important stuff like patrolling and stuff!" Zelda explained.
"No need to worry yourself, Zelda. Though you may have a point. Today's Wing Ceremony tests the skill of the rider as well as his bond to his bird. Victory will not come easily. And, as you pointed out, I haven't seen him practicing as hard as some of the other students. But you've known him since you were both very little. You should know better than to fret about him! You see, Link and his Loftwing share a special connection. I've never seen anything quite like it." Headmaster Gaepora explained.
The four turned to the skies. "As you know, each of us in Skyloft is but one half of a pair." They see Zelda's Loftwing flying above Skyloft. "We are only made whole by our Loftwings, the guardian birds that the goddess bestows upon each of us as a symbol of her divine protection." "Wow. That's so cool." Zoey smiled.
"When we are young, every one of us meets our Loftwing under the great Statue of the Goddess. It's quite a big moment, as I'm sure you recall." Then Headmaster Gaepora and Zelda turned to Link. "Ah, but that first meeting between Link and his Loftwing was extraordinary. The bird that came to him was a Crimson Loftwing. It is a breed so rare we were sure for some time that it had vanished from the line." Headmaster Gaepora stated as Link stared at the sky.
"Yes, and the boy and his bird seemed to share a profound connection from the moment they met." Link turned to his friends. Link blushed slightly as he rubbed his head in embarrassment "Do you recall seeing Link and that Loftwing of his when they first met? What a sight! The little boy just hopped up on that bird and gracefully flew away, without even a moment of instruction! They were meant for each other. And judging by how jealous you were that day, I'd say the friendship he shared with his bird didn't go unnoticed by you, my dear." Headmaster Gaepora praised.
Link looked at the sky with a smile. But he noticed something was wrong. "Ah, but who can blame you? I'm sure you weren't the only one envious of the powerful bond shared by Link and his bird. Anyone who is part of something special is bound to catch some nasty looks sooner or later, hoo hoo." Headmaster Gaepora laughed heartily. Zelda sighed, then turned to face her father sternly, Zoey sweat dropped.
"This contest is nothing to laugh at, Father! This ceremony is part of the final test for those training to become knights of Skyloft!" Zelda looked down. "If Link doesn't fly fast enough during the race… What if Link messes up his big chance… What if he's not allowed to become a knight?" Zelda asked worriedly.
"Calm down, my dear. It will be fine. Honestly, it's almost as though you become a completely different person when you worry about Link." Headmaster Gaepora stated. Zelda looked down for a moment then turned to face Link. "Listen, Link, you'd better fly your heart out today. At the very least, you need to squeeze in a little practice before the race!" Zelda told him as she grabbed Link's hand and dragged him towards a wooden pier for skies of some sort.
"But-But Zelda!" Link tried to explain what was wrong, but Zelda said "Come on! You'll thank me later!" Zoey sighed. "Those two are really close, huh?" She asked Headmaster Gaepora with a small smile.
Headmaster Gaepora nodded and with a smile, said "Yes, but it may turn out to be something more." Zelda pushed Link towards the edge.
"Here we are. Go on now. Jump off the edge and call your Loftwing. It's almost time for the ceremony, so try to practice seriously for once!" Zelda scolded. "But Zelda! I can't sense my Loftwing anywhere!" Link stammered.
"Hmm? Oh yeah? You can't 'sense' your bird out there?" Zelda then has a bored smile on her look. "Oh I get it. You're trying to weasel out of having to practice! Nice try, but you're not fooling me." Zelda then pushed Link off the edge. "Off you go!" Zelda said cheerfully.
Link screamed as he fell towards the skies. "Ok, go ahead, Link! Call your Loftwing with a whistle!" Zelda called out to him in courage.
"Whhhhyyy meeeee?" Link wailed as he began to whistle.
To be continued…
Heroes and Villains Profile
"Hello all! My name is Zoey Hanson and welcome to the first episode of Heroes and Villains Profile of the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Legends!" Zoey bowed politely before a huge screen.
"During this story, we will provide profiles on the heroes and villains of each world and Link and Zelda's world. First up, is Link!" The screen shows Link doing a heroic pose in his Skyloft School clothes.
"He is maybe 17 years old and is a student at Skyloft School. Brave and courageous, he always help those in need and is friends with almost everybody." Then the next screen shows Link resting on a tree.
"But his hobbies are bug catching, writing and sleeping. The Skyloft School teachers praised him for his amazing skills and brains for solving even the most difficult questions and quizzes."
"But there are students who are jealous of Link cause of his relationship with Headmaster Gaepora's daughter, Zelda." Zoey explained as the next screen shows Link talking to Zelda cheerfully.
"His Loftwing is a special one cause it is a Crimson Loftwing, a bird of a almost extinct race of Loftwings." The screen shows the Crimson Loftwing in shadows with a huge question mark in the middle.
"Some say Link is special, but destiny will play an important role in that during the start of this adventure. What is it you asked? You have to wait to find out." The screen fades out.
"That's all for Heroes and Villains Profile! See you next time!" Zoey waved good bye to the screen.
Next time: The School Bully and the Wing Ceremony