Title: Dovetail

Author: Silver Neko Baka

Hello peoples of the internet! I am sad to say that I may not be able to update as frequently because my Social Studies teacher just gave us a new project. Unfortunately, she is also my ELA teacher and she enjoys giving out projects so I'll probably have an English project to do after I turn in my current project on Monday *sad face*. However, I will continue to update as much as my time will allow, so please don't kill me! Also I would like to thank Rose Starglen, Msfcatlover, IxAmxJustice, and Piezelle for reviewing chapter 3.

Disclaimer:

Silver: *is writing*

Link: Woah, what's up with the ant bites?

Silver: -_-" We were playing Blind Man's Bluff at recess and in an attempt to see under the bandana, I crossed my eyes and didn't see the ant hill.

Zelda: Well, that's what you get for trying to cheat.

Link: Silver, have you ever thought of using some common sense?

Sliver: Common sense? Now what would I do with a useless thing like that?

Ghirahim: *rolls eyes* Silver does not own Legend of Zelda and her apparent lack of common sense makes me glad of that fact.

Sliver: HEY YOU WEENIE! TAKE THAT BACK!

Chapter four: The Tornado

(which manages to change everything)

(Link's POV)

Trumpets blared, calling all the student's who were planning to participate in the race to gather near the south pier. I rushed to meet up with the others. I had been on the other side of the island by the training hall, practicing my sword skills and snickering as I watched Dove polish the shields outside. Fortunately, I don't think she could hear me.

I don't know why she was so surprised when headmaster Gaebora had told her that she still could not compete in the race. After all, she went out flying at night by herself, she tried to pass through the cloud barrier, AND she mouthed off to one of Skyloft's knights when they tried to take her back to the island. That's three MAJOR rules broken right there.

"What are you thinking about, lad?" the master of the training hall asked, coming up behind me.

"Just about Dove," I replied absently.

"What about her, lad?" he asked.

"She's just so ungrateful," I said, thankful for the opportunity to finally speak my mind on the matter, "She could, and probably should, have gotten off a lot worse than she did."

"I have to agree," he said, wincing as the stack of shields fell over, causing Dove to shout a string of words that even the most ruthless sky-pirates wouldn't repeat, "she does seem a bit… dramatic."

"Dramatic is an understatement," I muttered, "her punishment is minor, and she's acting like, 'if I don't push the right button the entire world is doomed!' or something to that effect."

"Well, I know how to deal with people like Dove," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"You do? Really?" I asked.

He nodded, "It might not work at first but trust me, it'll work over time."

"What is it?"

"Just be—" the horn blared, cutting him off, "I'll tell you when you get back, lad!" he shouted after me as I ran out the door, "you go win that race!"

So here I was, running down Skyloft's streets as fast as humanly possible. I didn't stop to take a breath until I got to the pier, by then I had arrived looking like the number seven.

Headmaster Gaebora paused whatever announcement he was making to look over at me. "Link, are you alright?" he asked, giving me a sympathetic look.

"Yeah…" I panted, "…fine…me…"

With a gesture that obviously meant "very well then", he returned to going over the rules.

"This bird figurine shall be tied to the leg of this Loftwing," he said, waving a hand towards the yellow bird behind him, "The rules are simple. I will release the Loftwing into the skies and you will all follow it in an attempt to retrieve the figurine."

A whisper rippled through the crowd of eager students. We were all in absolute agreement that for a task that was supposed to enable us to climb one step higher in the ranks of knighthood, it was much too simple. I couldn't help but wonder if the headmaster had gotten enough sleep when he had decided on the challenge.

"The winner of this competition shall receive a gift from the young lady chosen to play the role of the goddess," he continued, "my daughter, Zelda."

Zelda smiled when her name was mentioned and shot me a glance that said "good luck, and you'd better win."

"I've been told that she made the gift herself. My, that should be special."

All the guys in the crowd muttered in agreement. It didn't take an all-powerful sage to know that they all had crushes on the girl. However, Zelda continued to look at me.

"I made it for you," she mouthed.

My face turned bright red and broke out into a dopey grin. "I made it for you", huh? Well now it was settled. I just had to swipe that figurine from that Loftwing.

(Dove's POV)

I finished the last shield and put it on the top of the growing pile in front of me. Why couldn't the headmaster have given me another punishment? Honestly, if curiosity was a sin then I should have been put to death by now!

"He's probably just too lazy to shine his own shield," I muttered, "stupid old goat!"

"Looks good, lass," the training hall's master said, clapping me on the back as I bent down to pick up my jacket, "I reckon that's it for today. Go take a break."

I snatched up my jacket and jerked away from him. "Of course that's it! I don't see anything else that needs to be polished around here, unless you would have me clean the dirt on the path!" I spat, "And I don't require YOU to tell me when I can take a break!" I called, already halfway down the dirt path.

(Link's POV)

Almost got it! I thought.

The bird was just a couple inches away from me, the figurine trailing in the wind behind it. I was going to win! I just had to reach a bit further.

My arm jerked as something solid hit it and then exploded in a shower of liquid. The liquid splashed in my hair and on my clothes, in short, now I was in a REALLY bad mood. I lifted my arm and experimentally sniffed at the substance. Raw eggs?

Another of the disgusting things slapped me in the face moments later. Wiping the egg from my eyes, I angrily looked in the direction of Groose's gang. Another egg hit my Loftwing in the head, which he shook off with an angry screech.

The yellow Loftwing flew upwards, ascending gracefully towards the sun. That was all I needed to give me a brain spark. "You want to play dirty?" I muttered, "Alright, I'll play your game."

I steered my bird upwards until I was above the yellow one and out of the area where the sun wouldn't be in my eyes to the point that it blinded me. Groose's gang tried to follow me in the straight on approach and immediately lost their sense of sight to the sudden bright light.

Lacking the ability to see where they were going and, therefore, to effectively control their birds, they immediately ran smack into the nearest floating hunk of stone. Both they and their birds fell until one of the knights flying along below in case of trouble caught them. When they were alright they, of course, demanded to return to the race. A request that the knights refused to honor as they had witnessed the entire egg throwing episode.

"Good riddance," I said to myself. My Loftwing squawked in what was apparently agreement.

Groose was closing in on the yellow bird now, but I had the advantage. He had to fly at it while blinded by the sun, all I had to do was swoop down and the figure was mine.

As I yanked hard to snap the cord that held the figurine, the other Loftwing gave a squawk of surprise and attempted to shake me off.

"Hey, hold on!" I shouted, doing my best to keep hold of the statue, which was about as easy as trying to hold onto an eel that was covered in butter.

All its struggling caused the cord to snap and the bird, which was obviously glad to get away from that loony human that had been pulling on its tail feathers, hurried back towards Skyloft's pier. I smiled and followed it, leaving an extremely dumbstruck Groose in my wake.

(Still Link's POV)

"I am proud to present the winner of our challenge, who shall be ascending to the phase where he begins training as a knight of Skyloft!" instructor Owlan called, holding my hand up.

I grinned proudly. I had never won anything before and I had to say, it felt pretty good to be on top for once. Plus, I also had my OTHER prize to look forward to, Zelda as she congratulated me at the goddesses' statue.

(Yes, it is still Link's POV. How'd you know?)

"I'm proud of you, Link," Zelda told me, taking the bird figurine and placing it in the open space inside the statue. "Here," she said," taking the sailcloth from around her shoulders, "This is the gift that I worked so hard to make. Take it, it belongs to you now."

"Thanks Zel," I said, gently taking the cloth from her hands. It was very light. So light in fact that I couldn't even begin to imagine how this would slow someone down if they were falling. Zelda must have put an incredible amount of work into this.

"So," she said, "do you know what happens at the END of a knighthood ceremony?"

Oh boy, here it comes! I thought as she approached me. She came as close as she could and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You do know what happens, right?" she asked.

"Uh-huh," I said, barely paying attention.

"Good," she said, moving her face so close to mine that our noses almost touched, "you have to jump!" she laughed, spinning me around and shoving me off the statue.

Fortunately, I had been holding the sailcloth in front of me with both hands at that time, as the action was so unexpected I probably couldn't have reacted fast enough to put it in the proper position otherwise.

Darn you, Zel! I thought as I raised the sailcloth, do you always have to go messing around with me like that?

I landed perfectly in the center of the circle in the stone courtyard. Zelda, who was already making her way down the stairs, came to join me.

"Come on, mister champion," she laughed, reaching up and messing with my hair, "let's go for a flight around Skyloft!"

(Dove's POV)

I boredly paced the perimeter of my room, waiting for some awesome event to befall me and cure me of my boredom. Disgusted with my lack of things to do in order to keep myself entertained, I began staring out the window. If you want to know what I saw, here's the summery. Cloud, cloud, cloud, cloud, Link and Zelda out flying together, cloud, cloud—Wait a darn minute! Link and Zelda were out flying together? Did that mean that Link had won the race?

Crap, that WAS what it meant! That was MY spot on the leader board, darn it! That was my spot and now they were out celebrating! Well, this time I was going to get even with Link, and I didn't care if my best friend was watching either!

(Still Dove's POV)

I took Aedion to catch up with them. They were flying a ways away from Skyloft, laughing about goddess knows what.

"So, Link my man," I said, pulling up beside them, "How does it feel not to be a looser for once in your life?"

"Dove!" Zelda scolded.

"Go away Dove," Link growled.

"No I'm not going away," I returned, "and I shall continue to fly beside you two love birds until you admit that you stole my spot in the first place category!"

"I did NOT steal you're spot!" he shouted, "You weren't even COMPETEING!"

"Had I been competing that would have been my spot! Ergo, you stole my spot!" I snapped.

"Dove please—" Zelda started.

"No," I growled, "Don't 'Dove please' me! I have something to say to this guy!"

"Keep it inside your head! I don't want to hear it!"

"Go to—" I started.

"STOP FIGHTING!" Zelda shouted, dragging us both back to reality.

"Why should I—" I began, only to be interrupted again.

"Look out!" Link shouted.

A strong gust of wind almost knocked me off of Aedion. I gripped her feathers tightly as the wind continued to blow. Sudden strong gusts weren't unusual in this part of the sky, but one continuous blast of wind was unheard of.

I forced myself to open my eyes despite the wind stinging them. A huge, black cloud had gathered and moved down wards until it connected with the cloud barrier below. It seemed to travel closer to us as we fought the wind.

"What the heck is that?" I shouted, over the wind it was barely audible though.

"A tornado!" Link shouted, "I—I don't think we can fly fast enough to put any distance between us and it!"

"That's just terrific!" I screamed, "Any other good news you'd like to share?"

"No, but I do have a piece of advice!" he cried, "Hold on to your Loftwings!"

The tornado struck with incredible force. It's quite a shock when you're suddenly and violently tossed and turned and every which direction.

"Zelda!" I shouted in a panic. "Link!" Oh great, now I was officially desperate to see someone.

The force of the wind seemed to tear through my body. I remember seeing a hand stretch out for me and I remember reaching up and taking it before blacking out.

Then I remember nothing.

Thanks for reading. I'll post again as soon as my schedule will allow. Cookies to anyone who can figure out what Aedion's name is a pun on.

~Silver Neko Baka