Hello everyone. I'm back, right on time too. Here are the next two chapters for your reading enjoyment. I want to thank Leopardfire97 for reviewing. The rest of you follow his/her example and review too! I really desperately want to hear from you all, especially if you have constructive criticism, but seriously please be nice. I don't own Zelda and probably never will, and now that that's out of the way happy reading!

Link had intended to run straight to town square, where Zelda was probably waiting. However, that plan died when he was barely out of the door. Still hopping to fix his boot, and not particularly looking where he was going, Link almost leapt right into a groaning mass of orange. His boot now in place, Link looked to see Fledge, trying with all his might to lift a barrel. Fledge, in his customary orange tunic and blue hood, had always been rather unfortunate, and his attempts with the barrels were no exception.

"Good morning, Fledge," Link said.

"Oh, ah, good morning, Link," Fledge said as he turned. Fledge was tall but skinny, and his face, while usually rosy, was particularly flushed from working at the barrels. "Today's the big Wing Ceremony, Right?"

Link answered in the affirmative.

"Oh. I wanted to fly too, but I…I didn't make the cut so I'm stuck back here at the academy. Plus, I've got to move these barrels over to the kitchen. I was hoping to be able to cheer you on, Link, but…I guess that's the way it goes. Go out there and wow them, buddy."

Link weighed his options in his mind. Sure, Zelda might be a little angry, but at least he would have an excuse…and he couldn't leave Fledge to suffer, especially with that hag of a lunch lady.

He walked over to one of the barrels and picked it up with ease.

Fledge turned to him. "Awww, thanks. I didn't think you had time to help me out, Link."

Link smiled. "It's no trouble at all, Fledge."

Skyloft. The beautiful island in the sky, which Link called home. It had been home to its people for countless years. The scenic isle gave them what they needed. Clear water fell from a never-ending spring, cascading down in a waterfall that fed the island's river. The land was rich and provided food for its inhabitants. And of course, the loftwings were the greatest gift of all. Giant, beautiful birds that were bonded to their owners forever gave constant companionship and the freedom to roam the skies.

One of these creatures flew over the Knight's Academy as Link stepped out of the heavy, engraved wood doors of the large building. The academy was surrounded by high stone walls with an intricately wrought iron gate leading to the town. Link intended to go through the gate and find Zelda posthaste, having already been delayed, but the goddess seemed to be conspiring against him today. The gate was shut.

Link ran over to it. He wiggled it with his hands, but it barely moved. He then gave it a solid kick. The gate refused to budge. Someone had locked it. Why in Hylia's name would someone do that today, Link thought. The gate is never locked—even at night! He growled. There was an alternative, but not one he wanted to use.

He looked left. There was another gate, though this one was only accessible from the upper story door of the academy. However, that door was currently unusable. One of the hinges had broken, and Jakamar was supposed to be repairing it today. No one was allowed to use it until it was fixed.

He looked over at the broken arch to his left that was supposed to join the wall to the school's upper courtyard. Someone had stacked some boxes up next to it. He eyed it for a moment and started running. Suddenly someone yelled, throwing him completely off balance and almost sending him onto his face.

"Hey, Link! Up here!" the person yelled.

Link looked up to see who was talking. His teacher, professor Horwell, was looking down from the other story with a slightly sheepish grin on his face.

"Good morning to you, Link! Today's finally the day of the long-awaited Wing Ceremony! Are you feeling ready? Oh, I just remembered. There's something I'd like to ask you about. Why don't you come join me up here?"

Link sighed. He would have been up there minutes ago had his teacher not stopped him. He walked back a ways and began sprinting again. When he was close enough he jumped up, barely catching hold of the top crate. Wriggling to help himself up, Link climbed to the top. He stood up and leapt the small distance between the ends of the arch and climbed up next to his teacher.

"So, what are you up to? Rushing off to do some last-minute bird-riding practice in this morning, Link?"

"No," Link said in response, "I have to go and see…"

"Oh, you have someone to meet? Ah, Zelda's waiting for you, is she?" the older man said with a conspiratorial wink. "Perfect timing, then!"

Goddess help me, Link groaned inwardly. What next.

"You see Zelda's father—headmaster Gaepora—has a pet named Mia, and, well…she's scampered off again."

Oh, goddess did Link know about Mia. Mia was a remlit. A creature that was cute and snuggly by day, but at night turned wild and vicious. Link had had his fair share of moonlit encounters with Mia. The most memorable being when the animal had pushed Link off of Skyloft. He and Zelda had been watching the stars maybe just a little too close to the island's edge, and boy could those things leap when they were angry.

Link knew what his teacher was going to say. "I'll find her," he said. It was a delay, but saving this cat could get him some major brownie points with the headmaster, the teacher, and maybe even Zelda.

"Oh, Link! Thank you! See, Mia's over on the roof over there."

Indeed Link could see her. She was curled on the far roof of the academy. He knew how to reach her. Grabbing onto a ledge protruding from the school, he slid his way over until he was on top of the platforms that stood alongside the school. He climbed up on to the roof and picked up the trembling animal. Link had to admit—she was actually pretty cute in the day. He made his way back to the teacher and dropped Mia at his feet, who then meowed and started purring.

"Thank you, Link. Sorry for troubling you with this. I know you're busy. I suppose I should go feed Mia now… Please tell the headmaster that we found his pet. He should be up by the statue of the goddess. I believe Zelda is there with him, so you'd best hurry along."

And hurry he did. Now that he knew where Zelda was, he ran to get there before it got too late, although he stopped for a moment before one of the odd bird statues scattered all over Skyloft. It was believed that they were the goddess's messengers, and any prayer told to a statue would be carried to the goddess herself. Inclining his head slightly, he murmured "Hylia, please be with me today and grant me success in the ceremony, and may Zelda not be too mad at me."

Don't worry, it picks up a little bit in the next chapter. I'm following the game pretty exactly for right now, but that should change when Link leaves Skyloft and there aren't a bajillion cut scenes a minute. Anyway, fun fact- did you know that potatoes used to be called ground apples? I read that last night and decided I needed to share, cuz it was just so weird. Sorry for that if you don't share my appreciation for random trivia.