Chapter Seven: Ceremony
Link felt more joy than he had in a long time. Balaen was handling well and seemed completely unhurt by his ordeal. He was also speeding along and seemed to be trying his best to reassure Link that he would never let him fall while he was there to catch him, as well as make up for what had happened, though he stayed away from the darker clouds that still loomed overhead.
Balaen knew that Link was terrified of falling, and he wanted to make sure that fear was little more than a distant memory for him. However as the bell rang once again, he knew it was time to make his way to the main platforms for the Wing Ceremony.
People were once again gathering along the front of Skyloft, the skies were emptying, and everyone was watching the skies for the sight of the four racing Loftwings. Zelda followed close behind Link, apparently not wanting to let him out of her sight, and as they passed over and heard a cheer from down below, Link couldn't help but smile and pat Balaen's neck. They neared the main platform, where the Academy students and most of the Knights were waiting. Fledge and Pipit beamed as they waved at Link and Balaen.
Balaen seemed determined to show off, and his thick legs slammed into the ground in front of Groose and his gang, who quickly backed up from the shrieking terror of a Loftwing. Balaen even snapped once at Groose, though Link quickly patted his neck to calm him down. Link could tell that Balaen hated Groose now.
He'd never liked him, seeing how he made it his mission in life to make his friend's life miserable. But after he nearly killed Link this time, even on accident, Balaen was wanting to break a few bones. Link kept him from doing so and leaped off, sending him into the air once again before turning to Groose, who was trying to make himself look cool for Zelda.
"I'm going to fly ahead and tell father what happened," Zelda called, running off again.
"Well," Groose said, careful to make sure Zelda was gone before he did so. "If it isn't Link. I see you found that dumb bird of yours. I don't get why they had to delay the race for some slacker like you though." Link blinked as he looked at Groose, who seemed strangely satisfied by the whole situation. His tune changed nearly immediately though. "And I see you still follow Zelda around. You're nearly a man and yet you can't go anywhere by yourself! Well today's the day I break up that little fantasy land you're living in. Zelda's the goddess in today's ceremony, and I'm claiming that Sailcloth...they say she made it herself and..."
Link just blinked as he continued to watch Groose rant and rave, then look like a lovesick Remlit again. Even Cawlin and Strich didn't seem to know what to make in the change in their little ring leader. They were all the same age, but sometimes Link wasn't sure if Groose actually was sixteen. He was always going on about being manly, yet he did things like this. He turned away and continued to daydream as he did so.
"Zelda's sailcloth..." he said. "I bet she was thinking of me when she made it." Link looked over his shoulder to see Zelda walking up, and Link again stepped out of the way as he watched her cross her arms and glare at Groose. "I can see it now. I'll win the race and finish the Ceremony on top of the Statue of the Goddess...just the two of us...It'll be our special moment, and no one's stopping us from having it."
"Hey," Cawlin said as he and Strich noticed Zelda and couldn't help but freak out. "Pssst. Groose. Right behind you!"
"Can't you see I'm-" Groose began as he turned around and froze upon seeing Zelda.
"Care to explain what you meant by our 'special moment alone'?" Zelda said, glaring at him again.
"I...uh..." Groose said with a nervous laugh. "Nothing much really. Just...just...Link! Yeah, I was just telling my buddy here how glad I was that he found that red bird of his. Man am I looking forward to a fair race today! Anyway, look for me later Zelda. I'll be pulling off all the dangerous moves during the race."
Zelda glared after Groose as he strutted away with his chest in the air like he was a Loftwing. Link just blinked after him. He'd been trying to cover up, but Link knew that Zelda had heard everything and there was no way he could just smooth it away. Besides, Zelda knew that Groose always picked on Link, and that he had been the one to take Balaen. Fledge and Pipit in the background though were snickering as Cawlin and Strich ran after Groose instead of facing Zelda's wrath. Zelda just shook her head.
"Did you hear that guy?" Zelda sighed to Link. "A fair race? The chances of that happening with him around are less than zero. Either way, don't let them get you down. Go out there and fly the best you can okay? I know you can win this."
"Yeah," Link said with a smile. "Thanks, Zelda."
"The Wing Ceremony will now begin," Horwell cried as he arrived and rang a small hand bell. "Participating Students, please assemble!"
Link lined up with Groose, Cawlin and Strich as they faced the main platform. Zelda backed off to join the rest of the spectators from the Academy, and talking was beginning all around them. Even with Zelda's reassurances he felt nervous. He remembered watching this many times, especially when he had seen Pipit win. It had been one thing to watch it, but nothing could compare him to how nervous he would be at the starting line.
Even Groose looked undeniably nervous. This was probably the biggest moment in all of their lives, and they had to put everything out there today. Link however felt as Balaen called to him, reassuring him that he was going to win for him. Link felt his nervousness disappear a little to a more manageable level as they faced Horwell.
Horwell had his Loftwing there, a small yellow bird not big enough to carry anyone. The creature was perched on a stand with a small statue tied around its feet, and the crowds didn't seem to bother it at all. The children peering at him nervously didn't bother him either.
Gaepora walked up to join Instructor Owlan, a tall man with gray hair and dark eyes and skin, and smiled at Link as three Knights flew overhead again with colored smoke trailing behind their Loftwings to announce the Ceremony would soon begin.
"Your attention please," Owlan called. "At last we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony. I was beginning to worry we'd have to proceed without Link, but luckily that it no longer a concern. I'm glad we could all make it. Before we begin, I'd like to explain the rules for the Ceremony."
The talking behind them drowned out any hope of the people behind them from hearing what was being said. Link felt Balaen doing his best to calm his nerves and took a deep breath. Gaepora continued to give Link a reassuring smile, though he seemed to be trying to hide it as well. Link knew it was for him though and gave him a smile back, before turning to look at Instructor Owlan again with the others.
"I have attached a small statuette to this bird," Owlan explained. "which I will then release to the skies. On my signal, dash off the edge of the pier and mount your Loftwings. Remember to call your bird promptly. Whoever catches the bird and claims the statuette will be this year's champion. Those are the rules. Simple enough, I should think."
The four all nodded. Groose was trying to look cool again. Cawlin looked rather bored, and Strich looked more nervous than Link felt. Link nodded to Owlan, who seemed satisfied that everyone understood the rules.
"As you well know," Owlan said. "today's champion will graduate to the next class, bringing him that much closer to Knighthood. He will also receive a gift from the young woman chosen to play the goddess in this year's ritual. Today is a special day for many reasons, but it's also the 25th anniversary of our fine institution."
Link smiled as he thought about it. His parents had been among this class as well, flying their hearts out with no idea how their world would change. When the Knights had first been established, the monsters were attacking in droves and it was hard to remain peaceful. Now however the Skyloft was well protected and it was very peaceful.
"To celebrate this occasion," Owlan continued. "the champion will also receive his gift atop the Statue of the Goddess. I hear the young woman playing the goddess this year has crafted it herself. This year the goddess will preformed by the lovely Zelda. Let's see your finest flying out here. I want to see how hard you've been practicing."
At the mention of Zelda, Groose began to make the lovesick face again, making Link glance towards him with a raised eyebrow. Now was not the time to be worrying about that at the moment, but he supposed that Groose wasn't the brightest either.
"Also," Gaepora added. "I want to see good, clean flying. Anyone caught interfering with other fliers will answer to me! That goes double for you Groose!"
Groose jumped at this acclimation and looked like he was hurt by the words. However Gaepora was completely serious and looked livid. Groose shot Link a sideways glare, but Link couldn't help but smile a little at Gaepora. It was nice that the man still had his back after all of these years. After all, they might as well be family. Gaepora smiled as the yellow Loftwing took to the skies.
"All right gentlemen," Owlan called. "Line up. At my command, the competition will begin!"
The cheering began in double as the four young men lined up, preparing to run straight off the edge of the pier and call their birds so they could race after the tiny Loftwing. The yellow Loftwing wasn't even half of Balaen's size it was so small, but it was fast and the perfect size for something like this. The four young men eyed the sky in front of them, preparing themselves to go.
"Go," Owlan cried, and somewhere a cannon went off to let everyone know it had started.
The four of them ran as fast as they could to the edge of the pier, leaping off fearlessly into the air where they knew their Loftwings were waiting. Link was the fastest, and he was soon letting out an earsplitting whistle. With a loud screech Link felt himself slam into Balaen's back. The bird had been following him down and just under him so that he could pick him up that much faster. A normal Loftwing would have a hard time recovering from that, but Balaen rocketed into the sky with no problem.
The crowds rushed to the edge of the Skyloft, including the one from the Academy, to watch as the race took place. He could still vaguely hear the sound of the crowds over the roar of the wind, but he was now looking for the little flash of yellow in the sky. He quickly spotted the Loftwing, and that Groose and his friends were racing right towards it. Link however knew they needed speed. He told Balaen to fly up and towards the Loftwing, which the Crimson Loftwing did with a screech and a powerful down stroke as he fought to follow and gain altitude.
Link watched below him, the other competitors and sounds little more than background issues as he watched them grow closer to the yellow bird. The others hadn't reached him yet because they were fighting against the winds, and the dark clouds seemed determined that they couldn't go that far out from the Skyloft, but soon they drew closer, and Link gave the command.
With another shriek Balaen dove downwards, past Cawlin, past Strich, past Groose who was fighting to pick up speed. Link ignored all of them as the Crimson Loftwing drew steadily closer to the yellow one. He was almost within reach now, and he reached out to take the statuette. Only Groose smacked his Loftwing into the side of Balaen, sneering at him as he did so. Though Balaen had taken the attack full force, he shrieked and corrected.
The yellow bird pulled away again, but Balaen was just mad now. He and Link were both unhurt, seeing how Groose had only wanted to slow Link down, but the Crimson Loftwings weren't known as being ferocious without reason. Balaen kicked out, catching Groose's Loftwing in the chest and making it drop several feet. Balaen gave out a battle cry as he shot forward again, making Link blink. He'd never felt Balaen so angry, or so determined before.
An egg crashed into the side of Link's shoulder. It was a Loftwing egg, and rather large. But it was little more than a hindrance seeing how they were laid outside of mating season. Link rolled his eyes as he realized that they were just once again trying to make his job harder. Now Link could hear booing from the crowds behind him. But as Balaen kicked Cawlin's bird too a cheer went out. They wanted to see a clean race, and it wasn't every day that Link let Balaen defend himself, mostly because he could kill another Loftwing and its rider if he let him go wild.
Again Link told Balaen to follow and gain altitude. Groose and his lackies were once again racing after it, not remembering or knowing that gaining altitude and diving would make them go faster. As he approached over their heads, Cawlin and Strich continued throwing eggs at him, trying to slow him down so that their boss could get all the glory. However Balaen had taken enough from them today, and was nimbly dodging them as he made his way towards them again.
As soon as Link gave the command, Balaen dove, cutting Groose and his bird off and making them pull up in surprise as Link and Balaen flew once again right for the little Loftwing. It was smaller and faster, and they needed all of that speed just to have any chance of catching up to it. Link reached forward and grabbed the little green bird statue. The knot tying it to the bird's leg came undone, and both the Crimson Loftwing and the yellow Lofting pulled away.
Balaen let out a victorious screech as he turned to head back towards the Skyloft. There was some confusion in the air, then Link held up the statue and smiled. The watching crowds cheered as they saw Link with it in his hand, and Balaen began to circle around under the pier. As he did so however he heard a cheerful voice call out.
"Link!"
Link looked up as Zelda leaped off the edge of the pier. She didn't call Peleca though, who was nearby just in case. Link reached out and caught her and her harp as she crashed into Balaen. The Crimson Loftwing gave a screech and dropped a few feet but quickly recovered with no problem. Overhead Link could hear people laughing at Zelda's display. Link was both touched and kind of worried that she'd have that much trust in him and Balaen. Balaen however just seemed amused.
"Hey watch out," Link cried. "You could have gotten hurt."
"Oh I'm fine," She laughed, patting Balaen's neck. "We both know Balaen's got both of us. He is a Crimson Loftwing after all. Great flying today. Congratulations Link! I knew you could do it. Now we'd better get on with the Ceremony."
The two Loftwings turned and made their way towards the Statue of the Goddess, and Link and Zelda couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness that had already occurred today. Their Loftwings carefully let them down on to the small structure the goddess seemed to be holding in her hands. The two birds then began to fly around over their heads, carelessly flying and enjoying the day and all the things that had just seemed to go right today. There had been some setbacks, but things had turned out just great, and it just seemed to be rounding out to be a pretty enjoyable day. Link smiled as he watched them circle overhead. Zelda turned to face him also smiling, and then held out her hand.
"Link hand me that bird statuette," she said. "The one you won in the race. I need to offer it to the Goddess."
Link nodded and pulled it out of his small pouch, handing it to her. She took it in both of her hands and with careful steps made her way over to a small alcove in the Goddess Statue that you couldn't see from the ground. She placed it inside and carefully turned it to face outwards, then picked up her harp again and started playing a beautiful tune. It was the same one she had played that morning, only she didn't sing this time. Then she smiled and turned to him again.
She smiled and held out her hand to him. Link smiled back and placed his hand in hers, then knelt in front of her and bowed his head. As he closed his eyes, he could almost swear that he felt something else there. Some other power was watching over them here, smiling down at him. Even the wind that usually whistled around at this height seemed quiet as Zelda began to speak in her soft voice. It didn't sound as it usually did.
"Great Goddess, guiding light and protector of our people," she said. "grant us 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."
She released his hand and reached behind her back. He kept his eyes closed and head down, simply waiting and wondering. He heard the rustling of cloth as he waited, and he wondered what she was doing. He looked up and she smiled, offering him the now folded sailcloth which she had tied around her shoulders earlier like a shawl. It was white with the blue symbol of a Loftwing on it, the holy symbol of the goddess. She smiled.
"The blessings of the goddess drift down from the heavens aloft a sail," she said. "which I now pass onto you."
Link smiled as well and took the cloth, standing and admiring it in the light. This is what Zelda had made? It was finely crafted and didn't look like it was handmade at all. He was awed by her skill with a needle. Again, he almost felt as if there was another force at work here, something else watching him. There was power in this simple cloth. It was still warm from where it had been around her shoulders earlier, and Link felt a slight burning in his ears. What was this he was feeling? It also smelled nice, and he knew he could use this to jump from any height without fear of a painful landing.
"Link," she giggled. "Quite goofing around. This is supposed to be a sacred ritual remember?"
"Yeah sorry," he said with a smile back.
"You know," Zelda said with a smile. "They say the goddess gave a 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 have it done to give it to today's champion. I'm really glad I got to give it to you Link. Make sure you take good care of it, okay?"
"Y-Yeah," Link stammered. "Okay."
"Thanks for making it up here today to do this with me," she said. "I know you promised to. Now we really should finish up this ritual."
She stepped forward, almost looking away as if shyly. Link blinked and was surprised. What was she doing now? What was he supposed to do? Was she going to...kiss him? No that would be ridiculous. This was an ancient ritual, a sacred rite of passage. Why on earth would she kiss him to end it? He couldn't help but think that though as she stepped forward so that her chest was nearly touching his. He blinked down into her face.
She smiled and giggled, spinning him around for the second time that day. He blinked as he looked down at the ground, which seemed like it was a long way away now. What was supposed to happen at the end again? He couldn't remember.
"You're supposed to jump off the statue," she said behind him, giggling more. "Look down, you see that big round design below? To finish the Ceremony, you have to use your Sailcloth to drop down right into the center of it. Leap off the edge here, and right before you hit the ground, open up your sailcloth and land. If you're really brave, you'll wait until the last minute before you do. So, ready to jump?"
"I guess I have to," Link said nervously.
For a minute he was paralyzed with the same old fear. He had to jump? He'd been terrified of falling since his parents died. But the sailcloth was built to carry his weight against any wind and make sure he landed safely from any height. He just had to trust in Zelda's handiwork. And he did. He trusted her. He just needed to courage. Before he could gather it however Zelda giggled and shoved him for the second time that day.
He let himself fall, and forced himself not to call Balaen. He knew this was part of the ritual. He watched as the ground grew closer and forced down his fear. It wasn't so bad. The ground was right there. He reached behind him and opened up the cloth when he got closer to the circle, holding the four corners, two in a hand and dropping down. His feet touched down gently enough, and he sighed as he stood and tucked the cloth away. He looked up as Zelda landed on Peleca and continued to smile. There was something else in her smile though.
"That was perfect," she giggled "You're amazing Link!"
"Thanks," he said with a smile. Zelda seemed surprised by what she'd just said and looked down just slightly, smiling just a little and hoping Link couldn't see her lightly blushing.
Balaen landed behind the two, cooing at Link as he did so. He seemed impressed by Link's ability to remain calm and not let his fear of falling take over him. The huge Crimson Loftwing folded its wings and looked down at the two children in front of him, as if sizing them up. However then both Loftwings turned their eyes towards the skies. The clouds were getting darker and getting far closer than they had been before.
"You know Link," Zelda said, looking kind of hesitant and blushing. Neither she nor Link noticed their Loftwings's distress. Their eyes were on each other. "Seeing how you won today...And with the weather not so bad...You think maybe you'd like to...you know go fly around the clouds together?"
"S-Sure," Link said, unsure where this was heading.
Zelda's face lit up when he said it, and Link found himself thinking that he didn't even really care where it was heading as long as he was with her. If he could make her smile like that he was happy. She turned and ran past Peleca towards the pier again by the Goddess Statue, grinning the whole way. Link felt Balaen tap his shoulder with his beak, warning him against it. But Link was too happy to listen and just followed her. They were both soon leaping out into the open air and whistling to be caught by their Loftwings.
However in the open air, Link began to notice how Balaen was behaving. He wasn't very happy, and he kept starting suddenly as if something was wrong. Yesterday he had been fine with the clouds and hadn't seemed to mind them being there. Now however he seemed to want to be standing on solid ground. Link noticed no other Loftwings in the skies either, as if they too were afraid. Link rubbed Balaen's neck, thinking of turning around.
"Link?" Zelda called over the wind. "Hey Link!"
He blinked in surprise and turned to look at her. Balaen fell back just a little so that he was closer to Peleca to let the two of them talk. He paused in surprise as he saw her still smiling at him. He couldn't help but feel a little spark in his chest when he saw it.
"Today was amazing," she called. "Watching you win the race and preforming the ritual together...I'll always remember it! It really was wonderful."
"Y-Yeah," he said, unable to keep a smile off of his face. "It was. It really was."
"You know Link," she said suddenly, looking at him almost shyly again. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about..."
Link felt his stomach do a flip flop as he looked at her, looking at him with those eyes. What did she mean? What did she need to talk to him about? He wasn't sure what she was going to say, and he found himself wishing for and dreading the answer at the same time. She opened her mouth to speak and say something, but then there was the sound of a mighty rushing wind and a bright flash of light. Zelda looked forward in surprise and gasped in horror. Link looked forward and felt terror too. It was a tornado formed out of the black clouds, but tornadoes never formed this high. It was dark and rotating far too fast as well.
"What is that?" Zelda gasped.
"Turn around," Link called. "Turn around!"
However the tornado seemed to be moving on its own. When the two attempted to turn it moved towards them, slowly sucking them in. Peleca and Balaen gave shrieks as they tried to fight against the wind, flapping hard. Balaen managed to begin pulling away backwards, and Link could sense his desperation to get him as far away from the tornado as possible. Peleca however began slipping towards it.
"What's going on?" Zelda cried.
"Zelda look out," Link called to her.
The winds seemed to pick up, and then Zelda was ripped from Peleca's back as they both went spinning towards the ground in the powerful winds of the tornado. Zelda screamed for him, raising her hand as if he could help her. Link was desperate to try and save her, and he told Balaen to go forward. The Loftwing didn't want to, and for the first time he ignored his command. However as Link begged him the Loftwing finally dropped into a dive to help Zelda.
As he was nearing her however the wind almost seemed to become tangible and slapped them back. It was enough force to knock Link completely off of Balaen and out of the grip of the wind. He saw the world spinning around him, Zelda in front of him, above him, beside him, Balaen diving for him, then flying up for him. Then Link felt his mind slip away from him and he quickly fell unconscious.
This is probably the shortest chapter I've had in a while for this story. The next chapter will actually start the story itself, and we'll get to see more of Link's story finally beginning on his way to becoming the goddess's chosen hero.
