Many loftwings flew seemingly haphazardly over the main island of Skyloft. Karane on her bird took to the left and Pipit on his took to the right of Link and Hylia on their crimson bird to help guard and escort them to the Pumpkin. They flew fast, too fast: it might have drawn more attention to them.
They got a good head start but the mob started to see them leave. They would call their own birds to make mad chase as they broke free from the grasps of the defending foot soldiers on the ground.
Chapter 16: The End of Skyloft (Part 4): To Safety
"Defend our homes!" they heard one of the riders turning towards Skyloft calling out in angry cheer as they zoomed past Pipit. His bird clashed with another, injuring it. Another man joined him, quickly attempting to catch up with another Pro-Hylia rider; they too clashed.
Pipit: "Hold on, buddy!" his bird called quietly and he spoke to it to keep it steady.
The three of them dodged and flew in the air quickly around other riders and obstacles. More arrows had been sent into the air haphazardly.
They flew and got closer and closer to their destination.
Karane turned stride suddenly: "Here we go!"
"Hmm?" Link turned to look at what she was talking about.
He saw more furious riders chaotically chasing some defenseless women and children, hysterically turning and weaving in desperation to escape. It looked as if they had chased them away from the rest of the crowd. One of them screamed out in fear as Link/Hylia, Pipit and Karane headed around them.
Link mumbled: "Shit… We can't just…" he clenched his teeth a little upset he couldn't try to help them right now. He slowed down suddenly, considering helping anyway. His escorts stayed at his pace.
Pipit: "No, let's go!"
The sounds of birds screeching were then heard coming from the opposite direction. A man with an odd iron-feathered helmet burst forth: "No!" He yelled, spiraling towards the perpetrators, "Not today!" It was Owlan. He knocked away the lead rider, allowing the women to break away and turn around to get to safety more easily. "Go!" he called to the women, "Go!"
Four more furious riders spread around the trio from behind.
Pipit: "Gotta move!"
The three of them dropped down to avoid a confrontation. As if from nowhere other men appeared far in front of them; the sky was starting to get a little crowded. Three of the furious riders darted forth towards Owlan and the others in the air. While the last one had dipped down to get a better look at Hylia, having plans of his own… But after getting a good view of Link who shot him a bold look, the rider wasn't brave enough to actually attack them.
Karane: "Hold back," she spoke to Link not noticing the guy behind them, "We need them to thin out a little first."
Pipit could see the Pumpkin out there: "But we're so close!"
Karane: "I know, but it's not safe. I didn't realize the others took off to get here already. The place is swarming!"
Link: "Yea…" he had been a little distracted by the rider behind them but he had taken off, now flaying away from them. "But we need to move out soon; we're about to have a lot of company, I think."
Karane looked back at him: "Why? -Oh." She saw the rider fleeing away from them, heading back to the main island. "You think we've got a squealer?"
Link: "Yup."
Pipit caught on quickly enough (he was going to give Hylia's location away): "Ahh, well, this isn't good then. Maybe we should push forward. We can take them." Owlan was doing a good job at thinning them out and distracting them enough; a few other soldiers, archers and rescue knights were also there. But the defenseless were starting to panic, unable to land at the Pumpkin they darted around anxiously. It was making things more hectic and dangerous.
Pipit: "We'll never just get around them. Nor is it right to use them as a shield for us to land."
Karane: "Yea. No, that's not an option."
Hylia grew a little worried; Link felt her hold onto him a little more tightly. He gently pushed her off to remove and equip his shield. He wrapped that arm around her, pulling her in more tightly towards his defenses. She made a soft sound as he brought her close.
Link: "Hold on now okay? Things are about to get a little intense."
He was very serious. She knew what he was going to do. She was now in a place where she would not restrict his movements. She held onto him tightly again.
Pipit looked concerned with this: "What are you going to do?"
Karane chuckled, excitedly readying her own weapon: "Push forward."
A few more people of both sides were heading closer.
Link took a quick breath, looking at Hylia again: "Ready?"
She nodded, and held onto him determinedly, as if his fortitude was with her. She was ready.
He flew forward, eager to fight. Karane and Pipit followed alongside.
-o-
Link was careful, considering Hylia at his side, but his crimson bird screeched as he attacked one of the bullies continuing to chase the women around in circles. Karane and Pipit helped draw them away too.
Karane yelled at them: "Back off!"
Deranged Knight: "Watch your back, little girl!"
She attacked him well, throwing him off balance: "Is that what your friends tell you?"
He scoffed at her, trying to retaliate.
Link ducked down and attacked another one from underneath as Pipit swung around with his hand extended, catching one of the people to set them a balance again, safely on their birds before they fell.
"Thank you! –Thank you!" They called to him. Pipit nodded. They got a good view of Hylia and Link above them before taking off.
Owlan and the other knights, seeing Link and his escorts in the area, headed over to see them.
Owlan: "The Pumpkin, head on there. Horwell has it secured already if you can reach it."
Pipit: "Right!"
Karane: "Nice headgear, sir."
Owlan somewhat smiled, adjusting his winged helm, despite how serious the situation was: "I knew I was saving it for something." He pointed: "Here come more." He yelled to his men: "Hold them off! We need to get the rest of these people inside!"
Owlan's men obeyed: "Right!" They confronted the new enemies as they slowly started to pour forth from the main island. They held them off well, considering. However it wasn't just the enemies coming from the main island either; reinforcements attacked them from behind too. The battle had truly taken to the skies now. But Hylia had time.
-o-
Hylia called to the women and others looking to reach safety: "Everyone! Follow us! We'll make sure you're safe!" She sat tall next to Link, waving her arms to gain their attention.
Seeing her and the Hero on that crimson bird startled them all –it was indeed an unexpected sight but a glorious sight. She looked too remarkable in frame with her delicate features and adornments. Yet her composure and words were strong next to her Hero.
"Hylia!" One of them spoke to the others as if amazed or relieved. They all seemed to calm down and follow.
Link/Hylia, saviors in a new form (with Pipit and Karane trailing behind to keep any tails off them) lead them all over towards the Pumpkin.
Once there Hylia told Link to stop: "I will enter after them. We must make sure they enter safely first."
He understood and really had no choice but to go along with her. He knew that tone, he had heard it many times before. She wouldn't budge on this.
Link set his bird atop the building. Scaly toes touched down and took a step; it now stood firmly on the structure. This crimson fellow couldn't help but open up his wings widely and flap them; he seemed exited and looked proud and stunning. The sight of him there with his riders was indeed a vision to see. Under his partially blowing red cape, the gold of Link's paldrons shinned in the bright light of the afternoon sun; his dulled blonde hair looked just as rich-gold as he calmly, humbly waited, holding his bird still. Hylia sat up tall by him looking at everyone; her dress matched the clouds as well as her glowing yellow hair strands and rich-blue tied bundles – so bright, radiant and pure in the sun, she waved them in with delight. Everyone knew they were safe and felt the held back power, the potential energy the Hero carried; the two seemed a perfectly matching pair of peace, empathy and security on this day: true saviors and guides. This was a sight and memory people, years later on the Surface, would write about and paint pictures of.
Encouraged and thankful, all the women, children, elderly or otherwise unable to fight dropped down from their birds and readied to file into the Pumpkin.
-o-
Inside the Pumpkin, a slight panic had brewed: "Someone's on the roof!"
Horwell peeked his head out. The people were finally landing… Seeing the rest of them landing, he thought he knew who it was. He eagerly rushed to the door to go outside: "It is them! Everything will be safe now."
A few people looked out the windows to see. But they noticed something else too: "More hostile soldiers! We can't let them inside!" "They are coming!"
Kina: "Wait; no way! They were on the roof!" She pointed now able to see Link's crimson bird as it flew forward to stop the hostiles. He swung around them and took one down very quickly and with ease. "No way!"
Orielle: "There's Pipit and Karane too. Ot oh…" A lot more enemy soldiers began to appear now. "I hope they have more backup then that."
Kina: "Oh, no! Hylia is still out there! She didn't drop down!"
-o-
Link and the others had flown away from the Pumpkin in means to protect the others as they got inside to safety.
Pipit and Karane held back most of them, but Link shot forth to help.
Things were getting thick out here now; more people from the main island of Skyloft were on their birds and coming closer, he could see them slowly coming closer, engaged in battle. He spotted Peater with a small command of soldiers as well as Croo and his Grandson with at least half of the rescue knights he knew of. It was heated battle now.
Link held back a lot this whole time, worrying for Hylia's safety next to him. He wasn't about to dash into another battle with her there: "Zelda, they are all in now. We need to head back and get you inside."
She nodded, seeing the danger headed their way.
Owlan performed a spin attack and shot down to help defend Hylia, firmly jabbing a long sword into one of the enemies, who then retreated. He spoke to the trio: "Here they come!" And indeed they did.
Six crazed riders darted forth; Link and Karane recognized one of them from earlier.
Karane: "He's back with his friends."
Link controlled his eagerness to fight: "Looks like it."
Owlan, Pipit and Karane stood their birds firmly in front of Link as if to form a barrier.
One of the approaching riders called out, pointing at Link: "Get him! He's the one we need! Once we have him she's ours for the taking!" They roared out in approval to each other, setting their marks on the crimson loftwing.
Link: "…Looks like I'm the target now. Good..." He looked at Hylia next to him. He then turned to Pipit and Karane: "Take her inside."
Pipit: "What? –No; you've got to bring her-"
Link cut him off, his eyes fixated on the men approaching him: "-I'll only be leading them closer. –Take her!" She seemed eager to jump onto another bird before it was too late.
Karane shot forward to receive Hylia.
Link had his game face on: "Both of you go! Now!"
Pipit: "Link, you can't-"
Link: "I have to." He briefly looked at Pipit: "I'm supposed to be able to trust you."
Pipit threw his nervousness away as if Link put his knightly honor in question: "Of course you can!" He began to turn around to catch up with Karane: "We will keep her safe!"
Link: "I know."
Link pulled back his loftwing so it cried loudly as Karane with Hylia and Pipit quickly escorted the young goddess back to the Pumpkin. They had gotten a surprisingly far distance from it. And as they flew in the opposite direction, Link focused intensely, finally able to fight for real; he darted towards the 6 crazed riders, breaking their pattern up in disarray.
Tan one: "Hey!"
Grey one: "You going to let him just do that?"
The Peach colored bird squawked back, its crazed rider ready to dart it forward in retaliation: "Get him! -For Skyloft!"
Karane/Hylia and Pipet heard him as they flew fast away–everyone around the area heard the enemy's battle cry as he hollered it again: "For Skyloft!"
Link somewhat smirked back, saying: "…For Hylia."
Owlan, close enough to hear Link, repeated his response, yelling it with his weapon in the air to motivate his people as it had him: "For Hylia!"
"Yea!" They cried, and the enemies yelled back once more in a growl, making the next move towards Link in this air battle.
-o-
The fight could be seen (and the battle cries were heard) from the Pumpkin but everyone's attention was soon at the door again.
Karane and Pipit escorted Hylia inside. Everyone turned in awe to see her as she entered. They all clapped and laughed cheerily, knowing all was a huge step closer to being well since she was now safely away from the danger. They greeted her and her escorts happily, thanking them again for helping them:
"You should have come inside before us your Grace, truly! Thank you!"
"-That was very selfless of you."
Hylia: "I had to know you were all safe… I could not allow myself to take priority; I was not about to put you all in more danger."
The women Pipit caught ran over and again thanked him; he stood tall telling her it what his undying duty and no problem.
But Hylia seemed tired/out of it still – finally Link wasn't the only one to notice this.
Kina: "Oh! –Your Grace!"
Karane helped her stay upright: "Let's get you a seat."
Hylia: "I…apologize."
Karane and Pipit brought her behind the counter to sit in the most comfortable looking chair –it was the owner's chair.
Pipit: "Sorry; also for the damage to your place, but…"
Pumm: "No need to worry about that, guys. We are completely at your service, your Grace. If this Pumpkin burns it matters not. Soon we won't be here any longer. –But oh, don't worry it won't actually burn; this place is built tough! Plus we have a basement; the ground won't burn. This place has a few more mysteries to it then the public knows."
Hylia: "Thank you, Pumm."
Pumm: "Now, here, let me get you something to drink and maybe a little of my famous soup. You'll be perked up in no time!"
-o-
Back outside, Link and Owlan defeated the fanatics and pushed forward to aid Peater, Croo, his grandson and the others present. As they approached 2 rescue knights were defeated, barreling down chaotically, but Croo's grandson was quick enough to swoop down and balance them in time (they were rescue knights after all; they had trained for these types of scenarios).
Croo shouted down to the 3 of them: "You guys alright?!"
Croo's grandson: "No problem. -Watch out!"
Owlan darted forth to protect Croo from the rider that threatened to knock him down. Meanwhile, Link pushed around the opposite side to aid Peater and his somewhat offish crew who were fairing decently.
Croo: "Yeow!"
Owlan: "We got you, Croo."
Croo: "Good thing too…" The enemies and unfortunately a few of the knights had thinned out in retreat/to recover due to injury. "I'm getting too old for this. I'm surprised I've lasted as long as I have."
Owlan somewhat laughed, touching his shoulder: "Give yourself more credit. You guys all did a good job here."
They watched as Peater's group was successful over the remaining of the enemies. The enemies retreated.
Owlan: "Any idea where they're retreating to?"
Croo: "They were headed west, maybe near the Fun Fun Island area. I guess there because I don't think they'd try to enter the Thunder cloud, or go beyond, but it's a possibility."
Owlan: "Hmm…I see."
All the remaining able bodied collected to talk and scan the area for more incoming trouble that might bring the Pumpkin danger.
Peater: "Ha-Ha! How did you like that show, ol' pal?" he gloated, gesturing, pumping himself up.
Croo somewhat sighed.
Owlan was more serious: "So far so good, but…" he imagined how Eagus would have poked fun of Peater if he were here right now to see this… "Hey, where is Eagus? He said he'd meet Horwell and I at the Pumpkin; he should have been here by now."
Peater calmed down a little: "Eagus? Yea I didn't see him catch up yet. They had stayed behind to regulate things on the Main Island. You think...we should go back there? -Check on them? It is rather odd they aren't here yet."
Owlan touched his chin: "Yes, I suppose it is…"
Link spoke up, him and his bird still anxious to fight: "I'll go. You all should stay here in case there's more trouble. Act as a barrier."
Owlan: "Just as I was thinking. Link," he looked over to him with fidelity in his tone "I must return to the Pumpkin to ensure its safety. Peater, Croo," he looked at them briefly, "You will join me." Peater, Croo, his grandson and a few others nodded, readily accepting Owlan's orders. "Just give a holler to us if need be."
Link readied to go: "Alright. I'll send someone back over if necessary." And he was quickly off and out of sight.
The others returned closer to the Pumpkin:
One of Owlan's soldiers: "Everything looks fine so far, sir. I'll drop down to get a report from Horwell."
Owlan: "Sounds good." He turned to everyone: "Alright men, let's spread out to cover more airspace. Sound the alarm if we have an incoming."
