A/N~ Thanks for all the positive feedback :) You guys rock!
Link gasped for air, but with each breath, he seemed to inhale more smoke and charred pieces of insect. He wished he could fly high enough to see the actual sky, not some blurred distortion of moving grey. But the swarm had no end.
"Hang in there, Link!" Pipit called from over the sound. Link gulped hard and nodded, though the small gesture couldn't be seen from so far away. Pipit yelled, and leaned to the left, guiding his large russet Loftwing into a group of hornet-colored dragonflies. He wished he had Pipit's…whatever it was. Confidence, most likely. Link had defeated Demise, and couldn't deny his ability with a sword, but he somehow always managed to reduce his self-esteem. Fi had been there to help and guide him, and he had been wielding the strongest sword ever created. With just an ordinary knight's blade, how good was he really?
Link flew above Pipit to give him cover, and narrowly dodged the forked tail of a centipede. He leaned back and stabbed his blade into the last segment of its tail, and the insect curled over and plummeted; dead. Most kinds of insects had such points on their bodies that killed them instantly if cut. But in such thick swarms, it was difficult to aim. As long as they cut a wing or gave it a great enough wound, it didn't matter where they aimed their blades.
A great screeching came from below them, where a congregation of bugs was swarming a massive shape. Ivory wings smacked the cloud back, and Gaepora's behemoth of a Loftwing overtook the swarm again. Its huge talons seized a dozen insects in each, before tossing them into the sky. He cawed, expelling wings and shells from his scarred beak.
They'll be fine, Link said to himself. He couldn't look after everyone in this fight when he could barely protect himself. He'd made a promise to Zelda to return to her, and he would do everything in his power to keep that promise. But still, he wished that he'd had the time to leave his scarf in her room, just in case.
Link's attention was drawn by a hiss of wings coming over his back. He pulled on his bird's bridle roughly, and the crimson took his warning and dove upwards. The bugs strained to follow, but Link guided his bird in a full circle, catching the insects' tails and killing the three of them in one swipe. Link looked over his shoulder again to check on Pipit, but the knight was not in sight.
A lightning bolt struck in front of him, and Link's bird stopped just in time. But the insects, who had no thoughts or self-preservation, kept going. An insect bashed into Link's shoulders, scrambling to find a patch of flesh to bite. Link shook out his cloak, and the bug held fast. Link's Loftwing screeched, then wound his neck around and crunched his maw over the bug. While he was distracted, a five foot long dragonfly tackled the crmison's chest. The bird fell to rid himself of the insect, reaching with his talons to grab the unwanted leech. Link was helpless to do anything but hold on as his steed thrashed.
His bird flipped through the air, whacking bugs with his wings, until finally the dragonfly let go, and was promptly bitten in half.
"Dive lower!" Link yelled. He was worried about Pipit. The two were supposed to remain close, in order to watch each other's blind spots, but his Loftwing had taken Link off course.
The dive downwards was fast, thanks to the armor. The cloud of bugs was still there, dotted with yellowjacket dragonflies and striped centipedes, but no sign of Pipit. Then, a flash of brown, green-tipped feathers. But that wasn't Pipit's Loftwing, it was Karane's.
Link kicked his Loftwing forward, and the bird dove fearlessly into the fray. Link circled once, hacking away the approaching bugs, then knelt low and crashed headfirst into the wall of bugs. His hand reached for feathers, and felt the rough cloth of a tunic. He grabbed it, and tried to heave the knight onto his own Loftwing, but the weight was more than he expected. Holding fast to the figure, fearing he would be unable to find it again, he sliced his sword into the surrounding bugs until they released the knight. The figure he was holding wore green, though their tunic was heavily bloodied.
"Karane!" Link yelled, and the figure jumped. She looked up, her eyes wide with fear. When she sat up, Link saw that she had been hunched over another figure. Pipit. The brave knight was not moving except for when the bird's motions caused his body to do so.
Karene's Loftwing screeched in pain as a striped dragonfly bit her leg, and Link's Loftwing kicked it away.
"He's hurt!" She yelled. Link nodded.
"Hold onto him! I'll clear the bugs away, then you fly to Skyloft!" His Loftwing flapped hard, pulling Link away from Karane. He swung his sword and dispersed the bugs surrounding himself, then cleared them away from Karane's brown Loftwing. The bird eagerly flew away, and Link followed at its tail, ensuring her escape. A massive centipede suddenly dropped from above, straight at Karane. Link tried to reach it, but it was already on them.
"No!"
A russet Loftwing rammed into the insect, fighting viciously against the monster twice its size. The Loftwing scattered blood, and whined as the dragonfly's small, though well-endowed fangs, sunk into its shoulder. Then, the bird flapped its wings and spun, driving the dragonfly away. As the bug floated in a daze, Pipit's Loftwing crushed its head between its bill.
The russet followed Karane the rest of the way to Skyloft, before crash-landing outside the academy.
Link wanted desperately to follow them. He'd only seen Pipit briefly, but there had been too much blood for a minor injury, and he wanted to be with his friend. But two knights had just left the battle, and he couldn't afford to leave as well.
Zelda sat alone in the darkness of a small room that had been restored in the castle. A hollow window opened up to a view of the plains, and then the grassy hill. If she looked up from the ground, she could see the sky. It was very dark, and the clouds were violet now. Zelda closed her eyes hard, and almost dropped a tear. There was a knock on her door, and Kina, the waitress from the Lumpy Pumpkin, walked inside. She was holding a lantern, something rarely used in Skyloft since no one went outside during night.
"Hi Zelda. Here, I brought a candle for you. It gets darker on the surface since the moon is further away. Interesting, huh?" Zelda nodded, and quickly turned away to wipe her eyes so the girl wouldn't see. But Kina put down the lantern and touched Zelda's back. "Are you okay?" Zelda wanted to shake her head, and be honest. She wanted to just break down and cry. She could this time too. She couldn't do anything right now, so what did it matter if she cried?
But Zelda nodded instead.
"I'll be okay."
"Okay…My father is fixing everyone some pumpkin soup. Will you come down?" Zelda nodded.
"In a minute."
When the door closed again, Zelda took the lantern and placed it on the windowsill, then knelt before the window and upturned her face towards the sky.
I am no longer a Goddess, and I cannot pray for him. Maybe that's for the best, as my last Hero died for me because I gave him my blessing. But as a mortal, I can pray to you. Din, give him strength. Nayru, give him the wisdom to act rationally, and Farore, give him courage. Golden Goddess, please, I know you returned him to me twice already, but please help him do it once more.
With that, she blew out the lantern and left her room as the smoke was whisked away by the cold wind.
Night fell, but few of the knights could actually rest. The ones who were heavily wounded returned to the island to be tended to, but the bugs never stopped. Link and his Loftwing were in better shape than most, so he remained in battle. The crimson did not protest. But he often looked upwards, longingly, like Link who looked down at the surface.
They both wanted to return to someone.
When Link flew alongside Fledge, who had returned from Skyloft after his Loftwing's broken leg was healed, the younger knight informed Link that Zelda was not on the island. Instructor Owlan, who had been up early with Instructor Horwell, saw Zelda flying to the surface that morning.
Link wasn't sure why she had left, but he was grateful.
….But he wasn't sure why she had left.
Fledge gasped, pulling Link from his thoughts. A yellow cloud was approaching them. Link had seen those insects before, but only in groups of five or ten- nothing he couldn't manage. He'd even purposefully knocked them down from their hives. But their sting had been painful in single dosages, and it would be lethal in the hundreds.
"Fledge, fly higher." Link said. The rosy-cheeked boy went pale.
"Are those all Deku hornets?" He said, his voice uneven.
"Fly higher!" Link yelled. Pipit flinched at Link's tone, then guided his orange bird higher. Link took out a bomb, and launched it forward. Their buzzing increased, then fell after the smoke cleared. But through the smoke came half of the swarm, still eager to attack the apparent invaders.
The bugs swarmed him and the other leading knights, and Link felt a painful prick on his cheek; worse than Peatrice's slap. He crushed the bug under his hand, and felt another one sting him through the leather of his glove. At least they seemed unable to penetrate his cloak, which guarded his neck. It truly was a gift from the Goddesses. The other knights were not as lucky.
Orielle yelped when a hornet stung her back, and Parrow flew closer to try and protect his sister from the tiny, lethal bugs. Parrow was swarmed, covered over with the black and yellow menaces. Link flew over to help, but a hissing centipede blocked his way, twisting in the air, then clamping its mouth around Link's shoulder. He shouted in pain, as a fiery sensation bubbling under his skin. Orielle screamed again, and Link's vision blurred.
The insect tugged at him, and he slipped off his Loftwing, and there was a deafening rush of air in his ears.
Link felt a rush of heat swell in his chest, reminiscent of anger, and then, just before the bugs could completely overcome them, the fire expelled outwards in tangible flames. It coated the bugs, lighting them on fire and burning them to a crisp instantly, but the knights and Loftwings were untouched. Link gasped and his eyes snapped open.
A green wind engulfed him, and lifted him upwards in a warm draft until he vanished. He reappeared above his bird's back, and landed between the crimson's shoulders. He dropped onto his bird's back, exhausted and stunned. What had he just done? Had that really been him to summon those flames? And then teleport with that green light? But…but magic was impossible.
The heat remained in his throat, like a spicy sweetener used in some of the cook's less favorable dishes. He expected to cough and see smoke, but that was not where the flame had come from. He had summoned it, yes, but the power was not his.
The unexpected attack had saved himself and the other knights, but it had drained him. A last resort, it seemed. But it was not yet time for last resorts. The fight was not over just yet.
Link lifted himself back up, and shook his head. The cape fluttered outwards, bearing the Triforce insignia proudly.
He found Gaepora in the midst of the battle, and joined him. He circled the ivory Loftwing, cutting into the escaping bugs and throwing them into the sky with loud yells that he could not hear over the wind and hissing of wings.
Link took a breath, and summoned the flames again. The insects clinging to the Loftwing's armor were pulled into the flaming tornado, and vanished into crisps. Gaepora's eyes flashed to Link, but he flew past him a moment later, and up. Fledge was struggling as centipedes circled closer, snapping their rows of teeth menacingly. Link suddenly jumped off his bird's back, and landed on an approaching dragonfly, sword leading. As the bug fell, Link jumped, and spun through the air, blade whistling through insects' shell armor. Before he could break into a free-fall, Link twisted again, and the green wind lifted him above his Loftwing again.
He hunched over his bird, and groaned, clutching his chest. Fledge started to fly over, noticing Link's distress, but the knight in green waves him away. Instead, Fledge yelled and increased his efforts to reach him. Link had only the time to look over his shoulder and see the rush of teeth.
But the bug was thrown backwards, as an opaque crystal suddenly engulfed the exhausted knight. Link tried to touch the blue surface, but his fingers passed through it. It faded, but immediately sprung back into place when the centipede tried to attack again. This time, Link didn't hesitate. He pulled his blade through the shield and cut the bug in half. It tried in vain to stay airborne, but quickly spiraled out of control.
Link's blade felt suddenly heavy. The bite in his shoulder stung beyond belief. He felt his blade slipping out of his hand.
Fight.
He redoubled his grip.
Hero chosen by the Goddess. Fight.
The voice belonged to a child; a young girl that he had never heard before. But at the same time, she sounded like a beautiful woman. Who was she?
Chosen Hero.
The voice was insistent, as if to regain his attention.
Fight, and return to her.
Link's eyes snapped open.
"Link! Are you okay? I thought we lost you!" Link pushed Fledge away.
"I'm fine." He said, swallowing hard. "Let's finish this war."
For two days, Zelda called for her Loftwing atop the castle. But her loyal friend did not answer her.
For two days, downy feathers and insect wings littered the surface.
Groose joined her once, and pointed out dark shapes moving in the distance. He told her not to be afraid, and that they were a type of strange, four-legged animal that lived on the plains, but Zelda already knew of them.
"They are called horses." She told him. Groose frowned.
"How do you know? I was going to name them Grooslings." Zelda couldn't help but crack a smile at his response. Link had told her how Groose tried to name the surface Grooseland even. The redhead had matured, yes, but he would always be vain.
"Because, the people who lived here first named them that. They even rode them like we do Loftwings." Groose was obviously having difficulty conjuring up the image.
"Do they fly?"
"No. They run. Very fast though." Zelda sighed. "They're probably wild now. We would have to tame them if we want to live here again."
Groose told her that many people had taken a liking to their temporary home on the surface. He had agreed to take some of them to the edge of the forest that day. Zelda leaned over the edge of the stone wall, and saw Lanaryu lounging in the grass, surrounded by children as he entertained them with his folk tales and they grabbed at his cloudy beard.
"I don't blame them." She said. "This place has always been beautiful."
Zelda tagged along with the group, after Kinna insisted that it would be good for her. That, and Zelda knew the surface better than Link even. And she kept her Goddess Bow on hand, and took the lead of the group, dispatching of any bokoblins with a simple pull of her arm. They were awed as she formed glowing arrows out of thin air. Peatrice caught him staring once, and pulled his attention back to her by pretending to sprain her ankle. Groose carried her for the rest of the day, and never once complained. Though he did become quite useless as a guide after that, leaving Zelda to do all the talking.
She kept them away from the lake for now, and only allowed them to view it at a distance, from the bridge. Many wanted to play in the water, but Zelda protested against it. She warned of a temperamental dragon that didn't take well to strangers, and no one thought of going near the water again.
The sun fell, and Zelda found herself once again on the rooftop. She saw flickers of light in the distance as Groose led a group of knight trainees back to the castle by lamplight. He'd been trying to teach them sword work, to keep their mind off of the battle high overhead. Those who remained had lit torches along the walls, providing beacons for their safe return.
Zelda closed her eyes and listened to the peaceful silence. Without thinking, she brought her hand to her lips and let out a soft whistle. It couldn't have echoed further than a few feet, but as she turned around to go back inside, a distant screech caused her to wait. She turned around and looked to the darkening sky.
Loftwings didn't fly at night, yet there she was.
Her Loftwing floated down from the dark clouds, and landed on the stone rooftop. The bird pat her toes over the strange surface, and shook out her feathers. Zelda stepped forward and touched her bird's soft plumage. Her Loftwing cocked its head to the side, positioning her keen eye in front of Zelda's face.
She was wondering why Zelda hadn't gotten on her back already, and so was Zelda.
She swung her legs over the bird's feathers, and the Lofting flew straight upwards, making a new hole in the clouds.
The moon shone brightly over Skyloft, and the island was lit up by the torches and open windows. The storm was over.
But her fears continued to mount as she entered the academy. The sounds of pain filled the halls. Knights lined the rooms, clutching bowls of heart potion or pumpkin soup. It was just like she remembered from the storm ten years ago. Zelda followed the sounds of anguish to Instructor Owlan's room, and found Karane outside, sobbing into Orielle's shoulder.
The brown-haired girl looked up when Zelda stopped in front of them.
"Zelda! You're back- we were worried when we couldn't find you." She said.
"Is it over?" Zelda asked. Orielle looked to the side, and nodded.
"It's over." When she turned her head, Zelda saw the thick patch of gauze over the girl's ear, stretching under her tunic. "Hornets." She informed her. Karane sniffled loudly, and Orielle swallowed, nodding at the girl beside her. "Pipit." She said quietly to Zelda. Zelda clutched her chest in fear, but Orielle shook her head. "He'll live, but-"
"He lost his arm…!" Karane sobbed. She looked up, and wiped her arm over her eyes. "He was protecting me." Zelda felt lightheaded, and put her hand on the wall to steady herself. She looked once more at the gathering of knights, but no one else wore green.
"Where's Link?" She asked. Orielle shook her head again.
"I'm sorry, Zelda, I haven't seen him all night. We were fighting, and somehow he summoned fire to help me, but then he flew off." Zelda backed away and ran to her room. It was empty. She tried his next, but it was also unoccupied.
Next, she tried her father's.
He stood when he saw her, but quickly sat back down, clutching his ribcage.
"My sweet daughter- are you all right?" She nodded, taking his hands.
"Yes, father. But where's Link?" He closed his eyes, and his whole face tightened.
"We can't search for him anymore tonight. The Loftwings are hurt as well, and we cannot send anyone in alone."
"He's missing?" She verified. Her father looked up.
"We will find him, Zelda." She backed away.
"I'm going now." His eyebrows raised, alarmed.
"Zelda, no. It's too dangerous." Zelda stopped at the door.
"I'm not afraid."
Her father followed her outside, but no one could stop her from jumping off the pier. Her Loftwing, to their dismay, obediently appeared and took Zelda on her back. Halfway to the storm cloud, Link's crimson Loftwing joined them. His white underbelly was dyed with patches of blood, and his feathers stuck out at awkward angles from under his armor. But still, he took the lead and guided them into the cloud.
The remaining bugs fled at the sight of more Loftwings and a knight in chain mail, and did not bother them the least.
She saw a small glint of light further away. A pale lavender speck in the sky. Zelda followed it. A dark, massive shape took form as she closed it. The rumbling of deep breaths filled the air with sound. She briefly closed her eyes and found the sound in her memory.
Levias, the god of the sky whom she had asked to watch over Skyloft in her absence.
She slid off her bird, and landed on the whale's head. There was a soft plate of skin capping his forehead, and on that, was a glowing flower. The source of the lavender light. She lifted it between her fingers. Goddess Blossoms. They had been abundant in her age as Hylia, but she hadn't seen a single one yet in this life. Until now.
But in the middle of the sky…?
She held it gently against her chest and ran to the edge of Levias' head.
"Levias!" She called. The whale exhaled loudly, slightly parting his mouth.
"Mhmp…Mhmp Guddssss…" The whale rumbled. Zelda frowned. What was he saying? Had all of his teeth fallen out with old age?
He shifted underfoot, opening his mouth wide. Zelda stumbled and fell flat, grasping the edge of his head with her spare hand. Link's Loftwing circled the whale's mouth with rapid flaps, passing increasingly closer to Zelda's head. He chirped desperately, until Zelda leaned over the edge of the whale's crown and looked down. Levias was leaning back in the sky, as if he was waiting fro Zelda to jump into his mouth. She squinted her eyes into the darkness.
She leaned forward, until she was halfway into the air. She was trying to see the shape resting inside the whale's mouth, but she was convinced she was making it up.
The whale nodded, and Zelda tumbled forward, landing into the soft cushion of his mouth. She rolled to her knees and peered inside the darkness. Levias peeled back his tongue, and revealed a person cradled inside his jaw. She relaxed greatly when she saw that person's body rising slightly as he breathed. Zelda slid down past the whale's lips and pulled against the person's shoulder, but slipped on the bottom of Levias' tongue.
She doubted that Link would ever have to go inside a whale's mouth to save someone. It would make an interesting story for when he woke up.
With the Loftwings' help, she was able to lift him onto Levias' back, exposed to the wind and fresher air.
Link was already rousing on his own. He moved onto his feet, clutching Zelda's shoulders for support. Then he stood on his own, and took a step back. The wind picked up, and his red cloak caught the air and billowed over his shoulders.
Zelda recognized it instantly, and clutched her chest to prevent her mortal heart from exploding at the sight. It was the same article that her first Hero had worn. He looked up, and the clouds seemed to move on his cue, exposing the brilliant moon behind him and bathing him in the radiance of the night sky.
The Goddesses had truly returned him to her.
Zelda shuddered when she saw something bright red spilling from a cut in his tunic, and was reminded of the chaotic battle that he'd taken a part in. But he fished his hand in the cut, and pulled the red cloth into his hand. He gently tugged it, and it unraveled in his hand.
The air threatened to whisk it away, but he held fast, and it fluttered open to its full length. Zelda gasped and wound her hand tighter into her shirt. It was long enough in the wind to reach her, and she slowly reached up and took the frayed end between her fingers.
"Will you take it?" He asked. Zelda's eyes flashed to his. "And everything it represents?" For once, Zelda was the one who could not find her voice. Link released it, and Zelda grasped it tightly in her hand. It fluttered backwards, into Zelda's embrace.
"I've been waiting a thousand years to say yes." Link's serious expression broke into joy, and he became that much more beautiful. His first step towards her was short, but Zelda ended all hesitation by running forward. He opened his arms and caught her.
Zelda felt tears rush her eyes, and did nothing to hold them back this time. There was truly no need this time.
"I'm sorry I waited. I should have asked you sooner." She shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. You came back for me." Death had not stopped him before.
"Wherever you are…in whatever life. I'll never abandon you." He promised. "I will always come back for you." The wind shifted again, pulling the scarf back towards them. It wound around their backs and hung in the air.
"I know you will."