Link
Walking out of the sparring hall with a sword held in its scabbard and clasped over my shoulder.
I'm sorry, but that's a brilliant image right there.
But enough of enjoying looks.
I cast my head in the direction of the waterfall.
everything else that laid in my sight was cut off by darkness, all that existed for me was the small beam of light that dimmed and flickered it's whereabouts, all others are oblivious to it, but for me... it is the only place my feet are content to step to.
I started to make my way to the cave, passing through the plaza, past the bridge, through the underpass, all of it a blur. My heart beat seemed to increase speed with every step I took, my mind had no room or it would not tolerate any distraction, my arms and hands seemed to think it was okay to twitch every now and again. By the time I reached the river that flowed from the waterfall I was in no state to battle, let alone cross the stepping stones. all the while, the light glowed ever brighter, as if it was aware of my presence... what do I mean 'if', Crimson knows that I'm here, he knows I'm coming to rescue him and he knows that I am now sitting next to the river, forcing myself to calm down.
This proved to be quite a task, in its self.
Having to force feed deep breaths down my throat made me a little nauseous but at least I'm calm and that's a step in the right direction.
Future steps in the right direction were made by crossing the stepping stones that lead to the other side of the river; each was about a meter apart and was made with a quick jump.
my heart started to quicken again as I reached the entrance to the cave... ha ha, I remember I brought Zelda to this cave once... it didn't end well, but now's not the time for a story.
The cave itself hadn't changed since I last saw it, except that a sign had been placed next to it.
Each step brought my heart rate up. Each step brought me closer to Crimson. As I approached the cave, I looked deep into its depths... it all went quiet... in my heart and mind, it felt... empty.
Screaming and Struggling, ripped open my chest and set my heart on fire. Red feathers flying everywhere, injured wings, scratches, bruises. A gap big enough to see the Sky, but too small to fit through to get to it. The Sky, the beautiful, outward, never ending, untameable, limitless, Sky. Right in front of me, everywhere, but out of reach, I tackled my prison with my beak again, only to reawaken the pain that had set in ever since those three wingless ones grabbed me. I tried to spread my wings to take flight but each attempt I took to take to the Sky was met with more frustration at my inability to do so. I let out the loudest Scream I could which was for the one person who understood me, the one person who could free me, the one person who was me. The message was clear:
"Help"
Link
Screw keeping calm, I'm getting us outta here.
Chus, Keese and Goddess knows what else, fell apart as I sped through the cave. All my frustration at Groose, at falling from the sky, at this whole ordeal itself was let out by the felling of each beast that got in the way. My head was in a blur, all I saw was red. This is me at my strongest... but it is also at my weakest. I don't care right now if this is not how a knight fights... its how a man fights when all he can see is Crimson.
My blade felt like a feather at it un-seemed my foes, each move I made was made with instinct, unthinking, effortless. I wasn't using my head; I was fighting with my heart.
The cave was long and arduous, but there was a light at the end, and for me that light burned like fire, because beyond it laid what I was searching for, and what was searching for me.
A few moments before reaching the exit. I stopped to take a breather, and Crimson seemed to agree with this cause he was getting exhausted too, I heard the flapping of wings behind me, another Keese? I thought. I was right, but only in part.
This Keese was far bigger than the ones I have encountered thus far. Its fangs were several times larger than an ordinary Keese, and its wing span was far larger than its peers.
I know this Keese, I thought, it was the same one that I encountered with Zelda all those years ago. It's grown. I remember I named it something after that day, I called it: Keesaga
I readied myself and locked on and side-stepped to the right as it swooped down on me, when I was out of the way, I jumped in the air and brought my sword down on it, but it was quick and flew out of the way. It then gave a loud screech that made my ears ring, but I was adamant that I wouldn't lose my lock on it. The Keesaga then flew at me, at speed I didn't think it could achieve, it rammed me into my right shoulder and was about to take a bite before I got my left had around it's wing and threw it at the wall. It regained its composure before it made impact however, and flew to the centre of the ceiling.
I had about 5 seconds
I locked on.
I got my sword ready.
It has a speed advantage.
It has a fly advantage
It's allot bigger than its brothers, wait... i got it.
Focussing on the fact that it's a much bigger target and therefore much easier to remain locked on, even at the speed it could go at.
I have to remain focused.
It flew once more at its impossible speed again, but my theory proved correct. Despite its speed, the fact that I'm prepared for the velocity means I can now keep track of it while locked on. And in the next split second it became obvious what it was about to do next:
It's heading for my left shoulder
Its mouth is open
Its wings are spread... I got it
The wings are the largest surface area the Keesaga has, and it's completely unprotected.
The timing was perfect. My sword swiped at just the precise moment to tear its left wing apart, which made it cry out in pain and fall to the ground
Victory
The Keesaga was crying out and trying, despite its wound, to fly to safety. I didn't really think about what I did next, but as it saw me approach it started to squeal loudly and fail to fly, how hard it must be... to not be able to fly. That's something I only just recently discovered to be hardship that all flightless ones will carry. This creature should have this ability taken away because of me... because of Groose.
The closer I got, the harder it squirmed, until I finally got to it and knelt down next to it, it seemed to stop then, but it was breathing fast. A thought came to me, this creature could be dyeing.
I quickly got up and rushed to the side of the cave, with luck, I found a heart flower and crushed it in my hands and started to rub them together until it formed a paste-like substance. I rushed over the Keesaga's side and place my hand on its side, its pulse was fading. I examined to wound I made, the actual cut was only through the skin on the wing not through the skeleton of the limb itself, this was good, I hoped. I started to rub the paste into the wound of the animal. It cried as I ran my fingers over it and tried to bite back my hands, but I kept it still with my left hand while treating the wound with my right.
I was taught how to do this during my training at the academy, it's meant for treating Loftwings, and the treatment also works on human wounds. The Heart Flower can make a paste that acts as a disinfectant, it can produce herbs that when eaten, or drank in a water solution, can settle stomach pains, and (when mixed with the right ingredients) can make a medicine that when drank, or when poured on wounds, can instantly cure internal damage. But enough with what I learned at school.
The paste entirely covered the Keesaga's wound; it definitely looked a lot calmer now. It looked up at me with a huge amber eye. Was it purring?
I them took a cup full of water in my hands and poured it on the wound. the Keesaga then hopped on its feet and, without using its wings climbed up the wall, when it was in its nest, it took another look at me, it made a noise with it's through, which I took to mean 'thank you'. Maybe, with time, it could fly again.
I stood up from my kneeling position, and noticed the bruise on my right shoulder where the Keesaga tackled, I was impressed. But the fire had been lit in my head again and again I saw Crimson, struggling to be free. Just like that Keesaga, we will fly again.
Zelda
"That's wonderful news" I thought when I heard that Link had found his Loftwing.
I was sitting atop my own as I headed to the waterfall, "well, he might not have found it yet. after all he would've had to go through the cave, possibly straight to the other side." my Loftwing did a nose-dive over the waterfall itself, to the back entrance to the cave, he then spread his wings to slow down, and made a turn to face the cave exit, just as a light-brown or dark-blond haired boy came out of it with a determined look on his face. He had a sword equipped and slung over his shoulder, neatly in its scabbard.
I wasn't surprised, but I did like the look of the sword on him, at this point I was approaching him quickly, I had to give him some warning.
"Link!" my Loftwing glided over to the landing where Link stood. I was tempted to run up and hug him, but I bit back the action and stopped a few steps away.
"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?
He frowned and looked to the ground, but then his face shot in the direction of the clearing. I didn't notice that last part
"Well, let's not lose hope yet. There a place up ahead that Groose and his gang are always hanging around. Maybe we'll find something there!
He looked back and smiled
It barely audible, but it was something you always heard. It wasn't the first time, always, no matter where I am. Asleep, flying, playing music, anything. I always heard it.
"Hylia"
"Huh...?"
Link looked back at me confused, but I wasn't watching, "Who... who's that? Who's calling for me?"
Link was gazing at me, interest sketched over his face
"Oh, sorry, Link. I got distracted for a moment. Let's go"
My eyes lingered over the clouds, or should I say: under them, to what lay beneath and beyond.
Link
I tucked that moment in the back of my mind, again, something to put under the 'later' category, for it seemed I too was distracted, well distracted enough to ignore Crimson all that time, and again I felt his mind on my own, he was a lot calmer now. But as I rounded the corner, he went chaotic at the sight of me.
"Look! There he is!" said Zelda as she rounded the corner after me.
Crimson was flapping and squawking and screeching and trying valiantly to brake open his prison. Every failure, tugged at my heart, every bruise I felt as my own. "No doubt about it. That's your Loftwing, Link" yes, there is no doubt.
My Friend of my Heart. What have they done to you?
I let loose my blade and brought it sweeping down on the ropes that held each plank in place, Crimson's pleas for help were slowly turning into cries of joy. Each rope fell satisfyingly down against my sword, until all the planks were at my feet. And Crimson fell silent.
Slowly and carefully, the mighty bird crept out of its prison, and made a point of checking his surroundings before stretching his wings to the full length and giving the mightiest cry of all. Its meaning was only captured by one but nevertheless the battle cry ringed loud and long
"I am free"
I looked down on myself, every inch of me was smiling, rejoicing at our reunion, I brushed my Flightless self's face with my beak, as if to say "you took your time" as only you can say to yourself. But I laughed and smiled. Fight and flight had been reunited, all was at peace and I was not going to deprive myself of freedom any longer, and I took off, unfurling my wings, I let myself loose in the Sky. My other half ran after me, to see more of me and make up for time cruelly taken from us.
"We should hurry, Link. Now that your Loftwing is free, you fly to the ceremony..."
Zelda
"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 didn't have to look to know that the answer was no
"It's been happening a lot lately. It's the strangest feeling... Almost like someone is calling out to me."
We looked out to the sky together; there was another sky island in the distance that I can't remember the name of.
"Have you ever wondered what's beneath the clouds? Some say it's an empty barren place, or even that there's nothing at all down bellow, but I just have this feeling that they're wrong. Some of Father's old texts talk about a place called the surface. The old tales describe a whole world under there, far vaster then Skyloft! The thing is, no one's ever been down there to see it, and out 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.
It's like the surface itself is calling for me.
"Oh, sorry, Link. We don't have time to talk! Let's get going. Look, your bird is waiting for you!
He looked excited and overjoyed to be given the chance to fly once more; his cute blue eyes alight with the prospect and watching for Crimson for the perfect time to jump.
I recalled the words that I was too afraid to say as I was talking about the surface
"I want you to see it with me"
Link
Nothing stood between me and Freedom, cause that what is was. Flying was freedom in every way possible. I skydived off the platform and gracefully soared into the air, and now my other self, watching carefully until the signal was given, glided above.
I gave the signal, and blew my whistle as hard as I could. I then felt myself dive straight toward the sound, (I'm finding it hard to keep track of who I'm talking about)
Crimson flew straight underneath me and I landed on his back, he started to soar upwards as I place my feet in the correct position, and grabbed on to the riding belt that was placed around Crimson's chest
To the sky