Ch. 2 - It Begins in Exasperation

The sun shone brightly on the back of a red-feathered Loftwing as it soared far above the clouds. The air was open and fresh. No land could be seen as far as the eye could see, save for a number of small islands in the sky. The bird flew toward the largest of these. Next to it flew its mate, a Loftwing of a brilliant purple hue. Their feathers trembled in the whipping air as they glided toward their destination.

Skyloft - the City in the Sky - floated above the clouds, and it was pleasantly called the home of many men and Loftwings alike. Its grass was green, and its walls were white. Many people's homes were carved from the rock and dirt of Skyloft and turned into warm, brightly colored structures and dug-outs. A large statue of a divine figure towered above it all - a sign of comfort and protection to its people. Banners, pinwheels, and flags caught the passing of the breezes and winds. Skyloft could only be described as peaceful.

One lone girl stood at the foot of the great statue, singing an ancient ballad whose words were unknown to many. She gently plucked the strings of the harp in her hands. Her hair was golden, and her dress was rose. As the purple Loftwing descended to meet her human partner, the music stopped, and the girl held out a sealed envelope to the bird. On the back of it was printed an ancient red character.

The great bird gently took the girl's message in its beak, and it took off again into the sky. The girl watched her bird go. Then she turned suddenly, as if an unknown voice had called out to her. There was no one.

Link opened his eyes in sleep-numbed pain. His back and head hurt as he stared at the ceiling. He knew he had fallen out of bed, but he didn't want to get up anyway. The face and bill of a purple Loftwing was staring at him in turn from an open window. After a moment of silence, it almost comically spat out the letter it was carrying towards the boy's face. It bounced off, and Link winced as its pointed corner connected with his forehead.

Rubbing the back of his head, he got up and examined it. He didn't even have to look at the red character printed on it to know whom it was from. Upon opening it, he read a very familiar, very dainty writing that he knew all too well.

Hey, sleepyhead. I know how much you like to sleep in, so I'm guessing this letter will be your alarm clock this morning. Did I guess right? Rise and shine, Link! Today's the Wing Ceremony. You promised to meet me before it starts, remember? You'd better not keep me waitiiing.

Zelda

He looked at the letter fondly. Well, Zelda always was the one who knows me best. She'll never change.

Link hurriedly got ready for the day, deciding that only a few swift swipes through his sandy hair would be sufficient to groom it. Link glanced around his room. He usually kept it tidy, save for the stray wood chip or scrap from his woodworking hobby. A red Loftwing and a golden Remlit lay proudly on his book case, which was filled with volumes of legends and histories which he and Zelda used to (and still did) pour over.

Link opened his wardrobe to fish out a blue rupee or two, and his gaze fell upon a small knitted toy Zelda had given him a long while ago. Yeah, she would probably be pretty mad in her affronted Zelda-y sort of way if he didn't get himself to their usual meeting spot soon beneath the Goddess Statue. I'm late enough as it is.

After checking up on his potted plants, Link headed out the door and entered the lower floor hall of the Knight Academy. He had to do something first, and he made for the classroom. Instructor Owlan was always the teacher who had taught Link the toughest flight maneuvers; he'd give Link the right advice. As Zelda so kindly reminded him, that day was the day Link and his other classmates would participate in Skyloft's Knight Academy "Wing Ceremony," an annual tradition where trainees underwent a challenging task. If successful, the student would have proved the worth of their bird-riding skills and bond with their Loftwing.

Link got a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. He relaxedly hadn't put too much effort into practicing, and he fully expected a reprimand or two from Zelda when he met up with her. Turning to the right, Link nodded to a freckled Knight in yellow. Pipit, and older student and bird expert, had graduated in last year's Wing Ceremony. Link entered the classroom and addressed a tall, white-haired man with his hands clasped behind him.

"Good morning, instructor," Link greeted.

"Hey, Link. The day of the Wing Ceremony is finally upon us! It's time to put what you've learned to use… all those practical skills I taught you and all the academic prowess instructor Horwell taught you. You need only remember them and trust in your bird." After a brief conversation, Link thanked his instructor, but before he left the classroom, he caught sight of a small drawing on the chalkboard most likely done by some student. It was a chalk drawing of a love umbrella. Link scoffed. How cliche. If ever he were in love, he'd certainly not act so mushily. Shaking his head, Link jogged through the academy hallway. Before he had touched the handle of the entrance, he was interrupted by a struggling voice.

"Good morning, Link! Today's the big Wing Ceremony, right?" As if he needed reminding. Link turned toward his fellow student, Fledge. Link thought well of the older and frailer trainee, but he pitied him because Fledge could never seem to muster the strength to stand up to anyone, especially -

"I wanted to fly, too, but I… I didn't make the cut, so I'm stuck back here at the academy."

"I'm sorry. It can happen to the best of us," Link awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. How am I supposed to respond to that?

"I've got to move these barrels over to the kitchen. I was hoping to to at least be able to cheer you on, Link, but… I guess that's the way it goes. Go out there and wow them, buddy!" Link's heart went out to his friend. He knew how little Fledge worked out or practiced in the Sparring Hall. Even barrels were a struggle for Fledge to lift.

"You know, I probably still have a bit of time… I could help you with that if you'd like." Fledge's eyes lit up. Grunting with the effort, yet hoisting a barrel far above his head, Link began to help his friend. It wasn't long before all the barrels had been delivered to Henya, the lunch lady of the academy. Though Link tried to refuse him, Fledge insisted that Link ought to accept half the pay he would have received.

"I know it's not much, but here's half. I have to hang back and watch the academy today. Good luck with the ceremony, Link!"

"Good luck to you, too, Fledge." Link flashed him a thumbs up, and Fledge only smiled. I really feel for him. I wish there was something more I could do to help. Link finally made it out the academy doors and into the vast outside. Link took a deep breath of fresh, sharp air. Skyloft brought such a feeling of freedom, exposed above the clouds and open to the air. Especially in the skies, Link felt at home. He strode forward toward the two stacked crates nearby. Using those, he could easily climb to the top of the academy roof and arrive at the Goddess Statue quicker. He was feeling confident.

"Good morning to you, Link!" Link stopped, and his eyebrows shot up skeptically without him even turning. Goddesses, Zelda's going to be mad. Looking upward, he spotted instructor Horwell from the top of the academy roof. It wasn't that he disliked Horwell, it's just that… he always seemed too engrossed in academics to really connect with each of his students. Besides, he was always trying to get Link to listen to his detailed accounts of each plant he had collected and documented.

"Good morning, instructor. What can I do for you?" Link was growing impatient, but respect had always been a part of his personal constitutions.

"Are you feeling ready?"

"I think s-"

"Oh, I just remembered," instructor Horwell cut in. "There's something I'd like to ask you about. Have a quick chat with me." Link sighed internally. He could only hope Zelda wouldn't go nuts. Before he could take a running start to jump the wooden crates and reach his teacher, Horwell interrupted and criticized his form, telling him what he already knew. If it was one thing Link hated, it was being told the obvious. As Horwell constantly fussed, Link simply dashed and cleared the boxes with ease. He then leaped over the gap of a broken arch. He fought the urge to let his annoyance show.

"So what are you up to?"

"You see I need to -"

"Rushing off to get some last-minute bird-riding practice in this morning?"

"Uh, instructor, I sort of need to meet someone, like now..." The instructor chuckled, and Link laughed nervously.

"You have someone to meet? Ah, Zelda's waiting for you, is she?" Horwell's expression had borne a touch of surprise, but he easily brushed it off. How had he known so quickly that it would be Zelda I was going to meet? "Perfect timing, then! You see, Mia, her father's pet Remlit, has scampered off again. Look! Over there. Do you see her?" Horwell vaguely motioned to the highest roof of the academy. Clearly much too far away, Link saw nothing, but he nodded slowly anyway and sighed inwardly. Horwell continued.

"I thought maybe I should feed her, but the ceremony is about to start, and I just put on a fresh set of clothes and, well… you see…" Horwell sighed in earnest regret. Link somehow turned his failed suppressed snort of laughter into a violent sneeze. And I have to be in the ceremony!

"Don't worry, I'm on it." He was definitely going to get flayed alive by Zelda. Funny how my clothes are perfectly sanctioned to get dirtied. Link didn't even try to repress his internal, justifiably wry humor. Oh well, let's get this over with. Next I bet I'll have to clean the entirety of the Loftwing nests. Having scaled the roofs of the academy ever since he was much younger, Link knew these walls like the back of his hand. A sidle across a lengthy wooden ledge using only the strength of his hands here, a jump there, and a climb up some thick Skyloft vines there…

Mia was still higher. Pushing a wooden crate up to the top-most portion of the roof, Link finally reached the elusive Remlit. Upon picking her up, he couldn't help but smile at it's docile wiggling and large ears. I outta throw you off the side of Skyloft, you know. Chucking Remlits to the clouds below was a favorite past time of both Link and Zelda ever since they were big enough to even toss one. The Remlits didn't mind, and they were certainly never harmed. They always would come flying back to the island after a moment with their large, pink ears boosting them upward.

It was no chore getting back to Horwell as Link simply dropped himself off the sides of the roofs. Once Link had laid her at Horwell's feet, the instructor only had eyes for the mewling Remlit.

"Safe and sound, instructor! Now can I-"

"Excellent!" Horwell interrupted as he cuddled the creature. "Sorry for troubling you with this. I know you're busy! I suppose I should feed her now." Link almost laughed aloud as he very easily imagined Horwell having just addressed the Remlit instead of him. Busy with getting him later and later to meet Zelda more like. As a long-time trouble maker, Link considered throwing the Remlit off right then and there, but he only waved to his instructor and jogged to the steps leading to the goddess' courtyard.

After sending a quick prayer to a nearby bird statue to calm his exasperation, Link hurriedly sprinted up the steps and entered the courtyard. He could see the distant pink figure of his best friend at the foot of the towering Goddess Statue. As Link approached, he slowed and listened in wonder to the faint tones of her singing. It wasn't like he hadn't heard her sing before, but she always looked even more beautiful when she was immersed in her melodies. 'More' beautiful? Where did that come from? Her voice traveled sweet and soft on the air.

"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess… Unite earth and sky… Bring light to the land."

Link smiled and called out to her, and she turned. Expecting a flurry of scoldings from his lively friend, Link was rather surprised to see her face brighten and beam at his arrival.

"Hey, good morning, Link!"

"Zel, I am so sorry I'm late. I know I slept in, and yeah, that's my bad, but there were a bunch of people who needed help, and, and…" He trailed off. She wasn't mad. Instead, the blonde exhaled and laughed in exasperation.

"I'm glad to see my Loftwing got you out of bed. I was pret-t-y sure you'd sleep in and forget to meet me this morning." She suddenly feigned a sorrowful frown and became doey-eyed.

"Yeah, you know me well." Link gently shoved her shoulder with his elbow and winked. "Hey, what's with this new dress? And this instrument?" Link peered at it, genuinely curious at his friend's clear contained excitement.

"Yes! They're mine to use today in the ceremony since I'll be playing the role of the goddess."

"Ooh, that's right." Link slapped his palm to his forehead in faked exaggeration.

"Oh, come on! Aren't they beautiful? Especially this instrument! They tell me it's just like the one the goddess was said to have in the legends." Link smiled at Zelda's bubbly enthusiasm. They together knew the legends well, though Zelda was more fascinated with the wise Goddess Hylia while Link admired the bravery of the Hero.

"I asked Father about it, and he says it's called a 'harp.'"

"Never heard of it." But Zelda twirled around, and her skirt twirled with her.

"I made this wrap myself." Her voice imperceptibly grew nervous with that statement. "We get to use it in today's ceremony!"

"Between the harp and your instrument, I'm positive you'll make a great goddess today." Link flashed her a smile, and Zelda's cheeks reddened.

"I got up early this morning because I wanted you to be the first to see me like this," she admitted.

"Ahh, so this is what I fought life and limb to arrive 'punctually' for." The two friends suddenly burst into fits of laughter.

"Goddesses, what did you do?"

"Got sage advice from Owlan, helped deliver a legion of barrels to Henya, and delivered Mia into the spotless hands of instructor Horwell." The chortles continued for a while.

"It's nice to know you think I look good," Zelda smiled as she wiped a tear of merriment from her eye. Link wasn't sure he quite understood what she meant by that, but he grinned at her all the same. They stood like that for a moment longer, and Link noticed that Zelda was about to speak, something more serious clearly on her mind, but before she could say one word to him, a booming voice made them both jump.

"Ah, there you are, Zelda." They turned to see Zelda's father, headmaster Gaebora, walking toward them.

I'm not too sure why I portrayed Horwell as an annoying teacher. I guess I always liked Owlan better because he really did give you better advice and taught you new flight mechanics.
And don't worry! I'm going super in-depth with the exposition only because I have so many fond memories with the beginning of the game. This will pick up; I guarantee!

Cheers!