CHAPTER NINE
Link woke up and found a gold tunic and new boots at the foot of his bed. His tights had also been washed. He was about to wonder the occasion when he remembered that today was the Becoming Of Ceremony for Prince Komali, soon to be the Chieftain.
Link dressed in the tunic, clean tights, and soft leather boots. He wondered to put on his hat but put against it; that would seem too casual. As he sat on his bed, thinking miserably about his miserable life, Zelda came in. She was wearing a soft sky blue dress with a sort of apron that had a picture of the Triforce on it. She had on white gloves and her tiara was resting delicately on her head.
"Link? You okay?" she asked. "The Ceremony starts in one hour and everyone, including me, was wondering where you were."
"I'm here," Link answered. He stood up from his bed. "I better get a Hyoi Pear or some All-Purpose Bait from my Bait Bag. I'm famished."
Link strode out the door. Zelda followed him after gazing around the messy room.
Link gasped when he saw the main foyer. In two days it had been transformed into an elegant dance floor!
Komali came up to Link and Zelda and gasped out, "Oh so you're going as a couple, well that's good can't stop to chat PLEASE don't bother me again I better go so oh well bye!"
"Us, bothering him?" Zelda snorted in indignation.
"WE ARE NOT GOING AS A COUPLE!" Link cried.
"Well, Komali says we are. Come ON, Link."
Link suddenly knew that Zelda liked Link a lot. Link may have different feeling for Tetra and Zelda, but Tetra and Zelda had the same feeling for him.
"Fine," agreed Link.
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An hour later, Link and Zelda went down to the main foyer were there were Ritos, Koroks, and a few humans.
There was music playing but everyone was mainly just chatting. A group of young Ritos who had just grown wings were having a contest of who could fly the farthest. Link watched them wistfully. Zelda tugged on his arm.
"Come ON Link, let's hurry."
Link broke his gaze from the Rito children and followed Zelda down the steps. Link took a swift look around the hall. He saw Fofaiken, tonight with a midnight blue tunic and white tights on, watching the antics of the two small Ritos while chatting with two Koroks. Link tried to catch a glimpse of Yaphet but the boy was nowhere to be seen.
"Wow, it's hot in here, isn't it?" Zelda wiped a gloved hand across her forehead. "Shall we go outside to see dawn break?"
"Err, okay," Link replied, thinking that he could get away to the beach. They went outside and Zelda looked to the East to see the rising sun.
"Oh, Link, isn't it beautiful?" Zelda sighed. Link glanced at the blaring sun and grunted, "Yeah, uh-huh, beautiful."
Link began to slowly tiptoe down to the beach. He got to the sand and opened his mouth to talk to Daphnes, but he was not there!
Forgetting that he was at a party, Link took off his fancy shirt, not wanting to ruin it, threw off his boots, and dove into the water. Link swam to the small island where he had learned the Wind's Requiem and looked around anxiously. He pulled a Hyoi Pear from his food bag and placed it on his head. When a seagull picked up the Pear, there seemed to be some connection between boy and bird, and Link could control the bird.
A seagull squawked and grabbed the Hyoi Pear. Now, Link was the seagull. He flew high over the water, trying to see the King of Red Lions. He flew next to Zelda. She drew away from him with a squeal of fright. Link squawked in her face and pushed his wings to make himself fly higher. He rode on the gentle breeze and saw something red! He dove towards it, but it was only Beedle's ship. With a disappointed squawk, he saw that the Kargoroks were following him! He rolled his seagull eyes and began to fly harder and faster. The enemies caught up with him and attacked the bird.
The connection broke, and Link realized that he Zelda was calling his name. He dove back into the water and stepped into his boots and put on his golden tunic.
"Coming, Zelda," he called back, pondering where Daphnes could have gotten to.
"Come on, Link, the dancing's starting!" Zelda giggled girlishly and pulled Link inside, and then the music started.
Hours later, the dancing stopped. Link let go of Zelda and looked outside. It was noon. Everyone was talking too loud for anyone but Link to hear his stomach growling. He quickly headed over to the banquet table but a hearty voice called out, "There he is!"
Before he knew it, Link had been grabbed and set in front of four foreign Rito girls.
"Ooh, Medli, he's cuter than I thought," giggled one who had an exact stereotypical-girlish voice. This Rito girl had blonde hair and green eyes. "My name is Gargianasky, but you can call me Gargia."
She held out her hand with the back of her hand face up, as though she expected Link to kiss it. Link decided to play stupid and shook her hand. Gargianasky drew back her hand quickly.
Medli, who was indeed the one who had pulled him over, hissed in his ear, "They have been DYING to meet you. Najela, that 'un, is sure that if she isn't picked for the Prince's wife then you will pick her." There was a slight note of resentment in her voice.
"As if!" snorted Link quietly.
"That's what I said," giggled Medli. Najela fluttered her eyelids at Link, who shook his head, disgusted.
Another Rito girl gave a smile, flashing her cream-white teeth. "I'm Sora." She spoke in that dreamy kind of voice that people use when flirting sometimes. Link shuddered, thinking how someone who was half-bird and not even his species was flirting with him!
The last girl remained quiet. She had black hair and black eyes. Medli pulled her forward and announced, "This is Calandra. You may call her Calan. She can sing a tune or two. I think Makar might be here; he can play good on his violin, that Sage can! If I can find him, then we could do a duet and Calan can sing!"
"No, no, Medli, please, let Najela sing. I hate singing," pleaded Calandra.
"Me, sing?" Najela snorted. "I'm tone deaf and can't warble a note! You better sing, Calan. Pleeeeeease?" begged Najela.
Link turned to go away as Calandra shrugged, but Medli grabbed his arm again.
"Come on, Link, don't wander away!" Medli laughed. She took flight and looked around for Makar.
"MAKAR!" she shouted, seeing him in the crowd. The small Korok looked up and, seeing Medli, brought out his leaf and flew up to her. They descended and Medli asked, "What do you think of doing a duet and having Calan sing?"
Makar cried, "Oh yes!" and took out his violin, who he somehow managed to carry with him. Medli nodded, "I'll go get my harp."
Link managed to escape the group this time and grabbed a plate at the banquet table. Filling it with enough food for breakfast and lunch, he began to chow down hungrily and greedily. He cleaned the plate and then set it down somewhere while no one was looking and swiftly wandered off so that no one would suspect him of leaving a plate there.
Komali flew up high in the air and shouted, "Attention please!"
The conversations died away and they all looked up at Komali. He smiled and called out, "We are going to have a duet by Medli and Makar, singing by Calandra."
Every head turned towards Medli and Makar, who waved, smiling nervously. They got their instruments ready and Makar called out squeakily, "We need a conductor!"
"Yeah," Medli agreed, looking pointedly at Link, "We need a conductor with a powerful conductor's baton! A magical one, you might say."
"Link!" squeaked Makar. Link turned red and pulled out the Wind Waker. He nervously went up to the two instrument-wielding Sages and held the Wind Waker ready. Makar hurriedly whispered, "First Medli plays the Earth God's Lyric. Then I play the Wind God's Aria. Then we do it together while Calandra sings. We repeat the doing it together part. Then I do the Aria and she does the Lyrics. After that, Calandra sings accapella. Okay?"
Link nodded. He was sweating. He had never performed in front of an audience before!
Holding the Wind Waker high, he glanced at Medli before thrusting the Wind Waker down. Down, down, middle, right, left, middle. He turned to Makar as Medli finished the last note and thrust the Wind Waker up. Up, up, down, right, left, right. He then conducted Medli for two notes, Makar for two notes, Medli for one note, and Makar for another note. Down, down, down, right, left, right. He then conducted Makar for two notes, Medli for two notes, Makar for one note, and Medli for the last note. Up, up, middle, right, left, middle. He wiped sweat from his eyes with his free hand as his conducted the Wind God's Aria. Up, up, down, right, left, right. He turned to Medli. Down, down, middle, right, left, middle. He then realized that there had also been a sweet tune floating in with the music, a voice. The voice was that of Calandra. Singing in time to first the Earth God's Lyrics, then the Wind God's Aria, and finally the two together, was her voice with no instruments playing, just her voice filling the hall. Link made no sense of the words, but the sound was like honey and sugar and tea, sweet, soothing, and calming. Link took a deep breath and relaxed.
When it was done, every applauded and clapped wildly, whistling and screaming for the amazing duo.
"Link," whispered Medli, "they're also cheering for you."
Link turned around and heard someone scream, "YEAH LINK!"
Link held the Wind Waker tight in his hand. He stumbled across the foyer and into his room, throwing himself down on his bed. He was too awake to sleep and too angry and annoyed and mystified about whom had stolen the King of Red Lions that he got up and dragged his feet all the way down to the foyer. The pounding noise gave him a headache, so he went out to the entrance to Dragon Roost Cavern. He kicked off his boot and stuck his feet into the warm water. It felt relaxing. Hoping that no one would see him, he took of his shirt so not to soil it and slid into the water.
It felt nice to drift in the water. Even though it was not a very good swimmer, he was able to swim across the pond and back before he needed to stop. He clung onto the wall to catch his breath. He then let go and thought dejectedly why he had gone after Ganondorf after Aryll was saved. He could have just left, and his life would have been perfect...
Link tried to draw in a breath but all that happened was that water filled his nose. He coughed and realized that he was being swept underneath the water! He flailed about, trying to reach the top, but up was down and down was up and North was South and West was East and Link had no idea how to get up! Or was it down now?
Slowly, he gave up, and drifted into unconsciousness...
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Zelda looked around anxiously for Link. She bumped into Sora and mumbled, "Oh, sorry."
"You're the Princess," Sora exclaimed in awe.
"No, I was just wearing this Princess costume," remarked Zelda wryly.
Sora ignored this sarcastic reply and asked quietly, "Is it true that all Zelda's marry all Link's?"
Zelda tilted her head to one side and smiled mischievously. "Yes, most of the time." She couldn't help but add, "I hope so this time."
"Ooh!" squealed Sora. "You like Link! You like Link! Hahaha, ooh, Gargianasky is going to be sooooooooo jealous! He likes you, doesn't he?" tittered Sora.
Zelda shrugged, trying to find Link.
"I don't know. Now, will you excuse me, Miss...?"
"Sora," the Rito girl quickly introduced herself. "M'name's Sora."
Zelda flashed a smile and then began her searching again.
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It was five hours before sunset, which was at nine o'clock. The first thing that the group did was go up to where Valoo used to reside. As they went up, Medli cried quietly, remembering how she could not bring her dragon friend back, and so he shared the same underwater grave as Daphnes. She had broken a promise to the Great Valoo, her dearest friend.
The oldest and wisest Rito came forward, to the giant hole where Valoo used to rest his tail. They brought forward the dead Chieftain's body and laid it next to the hole. Komali came forward and knelt beside his father, holding back tears. He kissed his father's brow and the pulled a feather from his wings and put it in his father's mouth, as Rito customs demand. He then lifted his wings and beat them powerfully, using the wind coming from his wings to slowly roll the body into the hole. He leaned eagerly over the edge as his father's body fell down, wings spread wide. The feather Komali had put in his mouth fell out, meaning that Komali would have a good long rule. It took the Chief six seconds to fall down to the room below, meaning that Komali would have four children. The wise Rito counted down from ten. When the body hit the ground, then the wise Rito stopped and would proclaim how many children the new Chieftain would be father to. It had, in fact, taken Komali's grandfather nine seconds to fall.
The wise Rito held up something that used to be a scale from the late Valoo, but it had been the first scale every given to the first Rito. The wise Rito placed it on Komali's bowed head and waited for a moment before lifting the scale off. The Rito then drew a dagger and gave himself a cut on his forearm, and did the same to Komali. Komali winced but then the two locked their forearms together, connecting their blood. This ensured that the new Rito Chieftain would become a good Chieftain.
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Two hours passed, and different rituals to predict Komali's new life were made. Soon, Komali knew that he would die before his wife, that his wife would die because of grieving, he would die of old age, his children would be two boys and two girls, a girl would be named after someone special to him and his wife who had died, and that one of them would make a grand discovery.
Then a huge gong boomed out and all of the young Rito girls got in a line. There was about a dozen in all, including Medli, Sora, Najela, Gargianasky, and Calandra. For an hour there would be dancing, and then a formal dinner.
Medli was seventh in line. When about twenty minutes had passed, Komali's voice called out, "Medli..."
Medli approached Komali and curtsied to him. Komali bowed and they had to dance very formally, for this was now a very serious time.
When the song ended, they bowed and curtsied again and Medli went away to wait in the line to see if maybe she could get another dance.
When Komali had finished dancing with each Rito girl twice, they all sat down to a formal dinner. Komali glanced at the sky. Two hours until he was to choose him wife...of course, he knew what he was going to do. It was QUITE obvious.
The dinner lasted for half an hour, but everyone was chatting for so long that it ended at eight o'clock.
Komali stood up and rapped the table. Immediately the musicians began playing and everyone began to dance, except for Komali and the Rito girls. They were doing a test.
Komali spread his wings and the Rito girls followed suit. He flew high into the sky and went to where the Kargoroks resided. He dove down with a yell and the Kargoroks spotted him. He dove at the water and pulled out of the dive as he skimmed the water. He then soared in the air and rammed into a Kargorok. It squawked and fell to the ocean.
"Follow me, girls!" yelled Komali, and to a private area, which Medli realized was where she had first learned that she was a Sage. Komali settled down and so did the girls.
"Oh, Komali," flirted Najela, "that was so brave of you."
"Oh, that was scary," sobbed Sora.
"How could you kill that innocent thing?" whispered Gargianasky.
"What was that, Gargia?" asked Komali, amused.
"Oh, I, uh, I said...I said, 'Komali, that was amazing!'" lied Gargianasky.
"Didn't even need a sword or arrows," admired Calandra.
"They can swim, though. It's not dead," Medli informed them. "Normally it's kill or be killed, but we usually never have any deaths here at Dragon Roost." Medli looked at the other girls. "Do you have any deaths by battle or murder at YOUR homes?"
"No, no, of course not!" the girls exclaimed quickly. Medli grinned.
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The sun was beginning to set. Komali went to the highest point on the mountain and stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sunset. As the last bit of the sun began to sink away and the stars began to pop out, Komali turned to the whole tribe and everyone present and boomed out in the loudest voice he could muster, "I HAVE COME TO MY DECISION!"
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?" screamed back the mob.
"I NOW SHALL CHOOSE MY WIFE!" Komali boomed.
"Whooooooooooooooooooo?" screamed back the mob, even though everyone new who he was going to pick.
Just like predicted by everyone there, Komali roared out, "MEDLI, COME FORTH!"
Everyone cheered and screamed except for the not chosen Rito girls, with the exception of Calandra. She patted Medli on the back before the Rito took off and soared up to where Komali was.
"Medli, will you marry me?" whispered Komali, but the Rito girl did not have a choice. It was just polite to make sure that the one you have chosen likes you.
"Yes," replied Medli. Suddenly, Zelda, who had been searching for Link the whole time, came up from searching and screamed, "HELP ME, QUICK! DON'T ASK QUESTIONS PLEASE! JUST COME WITH ME!" Tears were streaming down her face as the best fighters followed her down to where Link was.
Zelda, despite her pretty dress, dove into the water and pulled Link up. He had luckily floated up to the top and had had gotten some air.
One of the warriors came forward and whispered, "He's alive."
At that moment, Link's eyes snapped open. He jumped up, gasping for air.
"Where am I?" was all that he could say. "This is not home!" He saw Zelda and rasped, "Princess Zelda? Why are you out of the Castle?"
"WHAT?" Zelda exclaimed. "Link, what do you mean? The Castle...in Hyrule?"
Link rolled his eyes. "Where else?"
Zelda gasped. "Link...what Hero are you?"
Link rolled his eyes again and answered, "Hero of Time, of course."
Link woke up and found a gold tunic and new boots at the foot of his bed. His tights had also been washed. He was about to wonder the occasion when he remembered that today was the Becoming Of Ceremony for Prince Komali, soon to be the Chieftain.
Link dressed in the tunic, clean tights, and soft leather boots. He wondered to put on his hat but put against it; that would seem too casual. As he sat on his bed, thinking miserably about his miserable life, Zelda came in. She was wearing a soft sky blue dress with a sort of apron that had a picture of the Triforce on it. She had on white gloves and her tiara was resting delicately on her head.
"Link? You okay?" she asked. "The Ceremony starts in one hour and everyone, including me, was wondering where you were."
"I'm here," Link answered. He stood up from his bed. "I better get a Hyoi Pear or some All-Purpose Bait from my Bait Bag. I'm famished."
Link strode out the door. Zelda followed him after gazing around the messy room.
Link gasped when he saw the main foyer. In two days it had been transformed into an elegant dance floor!
Komali came up to Link and Zelda and gasped out, "Oh so you're going as a couple, well that's good can't stop to chat PLEASE don't bother me again I better go so oh well bye!"
"Us, bothering him?" Zelda snorted in indignation.
"WE ARE NOT GOING AS A COUPLE!" Link cried.
"Well, Komali says we are. Come ON, Link."
Link suddenly knew that Zelda liked Link a lot. Link may have different feeling for Tetra and Zelda, but Tetra and Zelda had the same feeling for him.
"Fine," agreed Link.
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An hour later, Link and Zelda went down to the main foyer were there were Ritos, Koroks, and a few humans.
There was music playing but everyone was mainly just chatting. A group of young Ritos who had just grown wings were having a contest of who could fly the farthest. Link watched them wistfully. Zelda tugged on his arm.
"Come ON Link, let's hurry."
Link broke his gaze from the Rito children and followed Zelda down the steps. Link took a swift look around the hall. He saw Fofaiken, tonight with a midnight blue tunic and white tights on, watching the antics of the two small Ritos while chatting with two Koroks. Link tried to catch a glimpse of Yaphet but the boy was nowhere to be seen.
"Wow, it's hot in here, isn't it?" Zelda wiped a gloved hand across her forehead. "Shall we go outside to see dawn break?"
"Err, okay," Link replied, thinking that he could get away to the beach. They went outside and Zelda looked to the East to see the rising sun.
"Oh, Link, isn't it beautiful?" Zelda sighed. Link glanced at the blaring sun and grunted, "Yeah, uh-huh, beautiful."
Link began to slowly tiptoe down to the beach. He got to the sand and opened his mouth to talk to Daphnes, but he was not there!
Forgetting that he was at a party, Link took off his fancy shirt, not wanting to ruin it, threw off his boots, and dove into the water. Link swam to the small island where he had learned the Wind's Requiem and looked around anxiously. He pulled a Hyoi Pear from his food bag and placed it on his head. When a seagull picked up the Pear, there seemed to be some connection between boy and bird, and Link could control the bird.
A seagull squawked and grabbed the Hyoi Pear. Now, Link was the seagull. He flew high over the water, trying to see the King of Red Lions. He flew next to Zelda. She drew away from him with a squeal of fright. Link squawked in her face and pushed his wings to make himself fly higher. He rode on the gentle breeze and saw something red! He dove towards it, but it was only Beedle's ship. With a disappointed squawk, he saw that the Kargoroks were following him! He rolled his seagull eyes and began to fly harder and faster. The enemies caught up with him and attacked the bird.
The connection broke, and Link realized that he Zelda was calling his name. He dove back into the water and stepped into his boots and put on his golden tunic.
"Coming, Zelda," he called back, pondering where Daphnes could have gotten to.
"Come on, Link, the dancing's starting!" Zelda giggled girlishly and pulled Link inside, and then the music started.
Hours later, the dancing stopped. Link let go of Zelda and looked outside. It was noon. Everyone was talking too loud for anyone but Link to hear his stomach growling. He quickly headed over to the banquet table but a hearty voice called out, "There he is!"
Before he knew it, Link had been grabbed and set in front of four foreign Rito girls.
"Ooh, Medli, he's cuter than I thought," giggled one who had an exact stereotypical-girlish voice. This Rito girl had blonde hair and green eyes. "My name is Gargianasky, but you can call me Gargia."
She held out her hand with the back of her hand face up, as though she expected Link to kiss it. Link decided to play stupid and shook her hand. Gargianasky drew back her hand quickly.
Medli, who was indeed the one who had pulled him over, hissed in his ear, "They have been DYING to meet you. Najela, that 'un, is sure that if she isn't picked for the Prince's wife then you will pick her." There was a slight note of resentment in her voice.
"As if!" snorted Link quietly.
"That's what I said," giggled Medli. Najela fluttered her eyelids at Link, who shook his head, disgusted.
Another Rito girl gave a smile, flashing her cream-white teeth. "I'm Sora." She spoke in that dreamy kind of voice that people use when flirting sometimes. Link shuddered, thinking how someone who was half-bird and not even his species was flirting with him!
The last girl remained quiet. She had black hair and black eyes. Medli pulled her forward and announced, "This is Calandra. You may call her Calan. She can sing a tune or two. I think Makar might be here; he can play good on his violin, that Sage can! If I can find him, then we could do a duet and Calan can sing!"
"No, no, Medli, please, let Najela sing. I hate singing," pleaded Calandra.
"Me, sing?" Najela snorted. "I'm tone deaf and can't warble a note! You better sing, Calan. Pleeeeeease?" begged Najela.
Link turned to go away as Calandra shrugged, but Medli grabbed his arm again.
"Come on, Link, don't wander away!" Medli laughed. She took flight and looked around for Makar.
"MAKAR!" she shouted, seeing him in the crowd. The small Korok looked up and, seeing Medli, brought out his leaf and flew up to her. They descended and Medli asked, "What do you think of doing a duet and having Calan sing?"
Makar cried, "Oh yes!" and took out his violin, who he somehow managed to carry with him. Medli nodded, "I'll go get my harp."
Link managed to escape the group this time and grabbed a plate at the banquet table. Filling it with enough food for breakfast and lunch, he began to chow down hungrily and greedily. He cleaned the plate and then set it down somewhere while no one was looking and swiftly wandered off so that no one would suspect him of leaving a plate there.
Komali flew up high in the air and shouted, "Attention please!"
The conversations died away and they all looked up at Komali. He smiled and called out, "We are going to have a duet by Medli and Makar, singing by Calandra."
Every head turned towards Medli and Makar, who waved, smiling nervously. They got their instruments ready and Makar called out squeakily, "We need a conductor!"
"Yeah," Medli agreed, looking pointedly at Link, "We need a conductor with a powerful conductor's baton! A magical one, you might say."
"Link!" squeaked Makar. Link turned red and pulled out the Wind Waker. He nervously went up to the two instrument-wielding Sages and held the Wind Waker ready. Makar hurriedly whispered, "First Medli plays the Earth God's Lyric. Then I play the Wind God's Aria. Then we do it together while Calandra sings. We repeat the doing it together part. Then I do the Aria and she does the Lyrics. After that, Calandra sings accapella. Okay?"
Link nodded. He was sweating. He had never performed in front of an audience before!
Holding the Wind Waker high, he glanced at Medli before thrusting the Wind Waker down. Down, down, middle, right, left, middle. He turned to Makar as Medli finished the last note and thrust the Wind Waker up. Up, up, down, right, left, right. He then conducted Medli for two notes, Makar for two notes, Medli for one note, and Makar for another note. Down, down, down, right, left, right. He then conducted Makar for two notes, Medli for two notes, Makar for one note, and Medli for the last note. Up, up, middle, right, left, middle. He wiped sweat from his eyes with his free hand as his conducted the Wind God's Aria. Up, up, down, right, left, right. He turned to Medli. Down, down, middle, right, left, middle. He then realized that there had also been a sweet tune floating in with the music, a voice. The voice was that of Calandra. Singing in time to first the Earth God's Lyrics, then the Wind God's Aria, and finally the two together, was her voice with no instruments playing, just her voice filling the hall. Link made no sense of the words, but the sound was like honey and sugar and tea, sweet, soothing, and calming. Link took a deep breath and relaxed.
When it was done, every applauded and clapped wildly, whistling and screaming for the amazing duo.
"Link," whispered Medli, "they're also cheering for you."
Link turned around and heard someone scream, "YEAH LINK!"
Link held the Wind Waker tight in his hand. He stumbled across the foyer and into his room, throwing himself down on his bed. He was too awake to sleep and too angry and annoyed and mystified about whom had stolen the King of Red Lions that he got up and dragged his feet all the way down to the foyer. The pounding noise gave him a headache, so he went out to the entrance to Dragon Roost Cavern. He kicked off his boot and stuck his feet into the warm water. It felt relaxing. Hoping that no one would see him, he took of his shirt so not to soil it and slid into the water.
It felt nice to drift in the water. Even though it was not a very good swimmer, he was able to swim across the pond and back before he needed to stop. He clung onto the wall to catch his breath. He then let go and thought dejectedly why he had gone after Ganondorf after Aryll was saved. He could have just left, and his life would have been perfect...
Link tried to draw in a breath but all that happened was that water filled his nose. He coughed and realized that he was being swept underneath the water! He flailed about, trying to reach the top, but up was down and down was up and North was South and West was East and Link had no idea how to get up! Or was it down now?
Slowly, he gave up, and drifted into unconsciousness...
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Zelda looked around anxiously for Link. She bumped into Sora and mumbled, "Oh, sorry."
"You're the Princess," Sora exclaimed in awe.
"No, I was just wearing this Princess costume," remarked Zelda wryly.
Sora ignored this sarcastic reply and asked quietly, "Is it true that all Zelda's marry all Link's?"
Zelda tilted her head to one side and smiled mischievously. "Yes, most of the time." She couldn't help but add, "I hope so this time."
"Ooh!" squealed Sora. "You like Link! You like Link! Hahaha, ooh, Gargianasky is going to be sooooooooo jealous! He likes you, doesn't he?" tittered Sora.
Zelda shrugged, trying to find Link.
"I don't know. Now, will you excuse me, Miss...?"
"Sora," the Rito girl quickly introduced herself. "M'name's Sora."
Zelda flashed a smile and then began her searching again.
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It was five hours before sunset, which was at nine o'clock. The first thing that the group did was go up to where Valoo used to reside. As they went up, Medli cried quietly, remembering how she could not bring her dragon friend back, and so he shared the same underwater grave as Daphnes. She had broken a promise to the Great Valoo, her dearest friend.
The oldest and wisest Rito came forward, to the giant hole where Valoo used to rest his tail. They brought forward the dead Chieftain's body and laid it next to the hole. Komali came forward and knelt beside his father, holding back tears. He kissed his father's brow and the pulled a feather from his wings and put it in his father's mouth, as Rito customs demand. He then lifted his wings and beat them powerfully, using the wind coming from his wings to slowly roll the body into the hole. He leaned eagerly over the edge as his father's body fell down, wings spread wide. The feather Komali had put in his mouth fell out, meaning that Komali would have a good long rule. It took the Chief six seconds to fall down to the room below, meaning that Komali would have four children. The wise Rito counted down from ten. When the body hit the ground, then the wise Rito stopped and would proclaim how many children the new Chieftain would be father to. It had, in fact, taken Komali's grandfather nine seconds to fall.
The wise Rito held up something that used to be a scale from the late Valoo, but it had been the first scale every given to the first Rito. The wise Rito placed it on Komali's bowed head and waited for a moment before lifting the scale off. The Rito then drew a dagger and gave himself a cut on his forearm, and did the same to Komali. Komali winced but then the two locked their forearms together, connecting their blood. This ensured that the new Rito Chieftain would become a good Chieftain.
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Two hours passed, and different rituals to predict Komali's new life were made. Soon, Komali knew that he would die before his wife, that his wife would die because of grieving, he would die of old age, his children would be two boys and two girls, a girl would be named after someone special to him and his wife who had died, and that one of them would make a grand discovery.
Then a huge gong boomed out and all of the young Rito girls got in a line. There was about a dozen in all, including Medli, Sora, Najela, Gargianasky, and Calandra. For an hour there would be dancing, and then a formal dinner.
Medli was seventh in line. When about twenty minutes had passed, Komali's voice called out, "Medli..."
Medli approached Komali and curtsied to him. Komali bowed and they had to dance very formally, for this was now a very serious time.
When the song ended, they bowed and curtsied again and Medli went away to wait in the line to see if maybe she could get another dance.
When Komali had finished dancing with each Rito girl twice, they all sat down to a formal dinner. Komali glanced at the sky. Two hours until he was to choose him wife...of course, he knew what he was going to do. It was QUITE obvious.
The dinner lasted for half an hour, but everyone was chatting for so long that it ended at eight o'clock.
Komali stood up and rapped the table. Immediately the musicians began playing and everyone began to dance, except for Komali and the Rito girls. They were doing a test.
Komali spread his wings and the Rito girls followed suit. He flew high into the sky and went to where the Kargoroks resided. He dove down with a yell and the Kargoroks spotted him. He dove at the water and pulled out of the dive as he skimmed the water. He then soared in the air and rammed into a Kargorok. It squawked and fell to the ocean.
"Follow me, girls!" yelled Komali, and to a private area, which Medli realized was where she had first learned that she was a Sage. Komali settled down and so did the girls.
"Oh, Komali," flirted Najela, "that was so brave of you."
"Oh, that was scary," sobbed Sora.
"How could you kill that innocent thing?" whispered Gargianasky.
"What was that, Gargia?" asked Komali, amused.
"Oh, I, uh, I said...I said, 'Komali, that was amazing!'" lied Gargianasky.
"Didn't even need a sword or arrows," admired Calandra.
"They can swim, though. It's not dead," Medli informed them. "Normally it's kill or be killed, but we usually never have any deaths here at Dragon Roost." Medli looked at the other girls. "Do you have any deaths by battle or murder at YOUR homes?"
"No, no, of course not!" the girls exclaimed quickly. Medli grinned.
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The sun was beginning to set. Komali went to the highest point on the mountain and stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sunset. As the last bit of the sun began to sink away and the stars began to pop out, Komali turned to the whole tribe and everyone present and boomed out in the loudest voice he could muster, "I HAVE COME TO MY DECISION!"
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?" screamed back the mob.
"I NOW SHALL CHOOSE MY WIFE!" Komali boomed.
"Whooooooooooooooooooo?" screamed back the mob, even though everyone new who he was going to pick.
Just like predicted by everyone there, Komali roared out, "MEDLI, COME FORTH!"
Everyone cheered and screamed except for the not chosen Rito girls, with the exception of Calandra. She patted Medli on the back before the Rito took off and soared up to where Komali was.
"Medli, will you marry me?" whispered Komali, but the Rito girl did not have a choice. It was just polite to make sure that the one you have chosen likes you.
"Yes," replied Medli. Suddenly, Zelda, who had been searching for Link the whole time, came up from searching and screamed, "HELP ME, QUICK! DON'T ASK QUESTIONS PLEASE! JUST COME WITH ME!" Tears were streaming down her face as the best fighters followed her down to where Link was.
Zelda, despite her pretty dress, dove into the water and pulled Link up. He had luckily floated up to the top and had had gotten some air.
One of the warriors came forward and whispered, "He's alive."
At that moment, Link's eyes snapped open. He jumped up, gasping for air.
"Where am I?" was all that he could say. "This is not home!" He saw Zelda and rasped, "Princess Zelda? Why are you out of the Castle?"
"WHAT?" Zelda exclaimed. "Link, what do you mean? The Castle...in Hyrule?"
Link rolled his eyes. "Where else?"
Zelda gasped. "Link...what Hero are you?"
Link rolled his eyes again and answered, "Hero of Time, of course."