A day and a night had passed. On the second night, Gaepora found himself engaging in a habit he had formed since the day Zelda vanished; checking her room at night in hopes it had all been a bad memory. Although she had been returned safely, he needed to know she was still there and unhurt before he could turn in for the evening. His sandaled feet echoed across the stone floor and he walked by lantern light through the dark hallway. With a gentle knock, he slowly opened her door and found her room empty. His brow furrowed and his heart started to race. He checked the rooms of Fledge, Groose, and Link and found them all empty, too. As panic set in, he started to question whether their return had really happened, or had he finally gone mad with worry?
He rushed outside, greeted by the cold night air. The bright moon and thousands of stars lit up the otherwise peaceful Skyloft most beautifully. Despite the cool breeze, beads of sweat began forming on his forehead as he walked briskly toward the light tower. To his surprise, he encountered Professors Owlan and Horwell, who each raised a hand to halt him.
"Peace, Gaepora," Owlan said.
They gestured to the light tower. From the top of it, he could faintly hear Zelda, Groose, and Fledge talking. Though he did not hear him, he could deduce that Link was likely with Zelda as well, as he usually was.
"We've been keeping an eye on them," Horwell said.
"I imagine they just need some time to process things together," Owlan added.
Gaepora sighed, allowing the remnants of his panic to dwindle. His shoulders dropped, and he laid a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Thank you both," he said, quietly and breathlessly.
"We'll make sure they get back inside safely," Horwell assured him. "You get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."
Atop the tower, the group laid in the circle, each with their heads near the center of the roof of the tower, gazing into the sky and sharing about their experiences of being back on Skyloft. While they had thoroughly enjoyed being back home, the bond between them now offered solace, as they were the only four who truly knew what they had endured and were currently enduring during their re-adjustment back to normalcy. Therefore, they stowed away together when they could, oft without telling anyone.
"Say," Groose chuckled, "I know there was a lot of fighting and dark, evil stuff, and we all almost died a half a dozen times, but I'm curious to know what everyone liked about... well... everything."
There was a silence for a time, interrupted only by gusts of wind. Naturally, this made Groose's skin crawl.
"I'll go first, I guess," he half-grumbled. "I liked getting to clobber those monsters. Something about it helped me get out a ton of pent up rage I didn't even know I had. I'm definitely going to be taking lessons with Eagus soon."
"You'll be teaching lessons before too long," Fledge chimed in. "You were quite the warrior, despite not having any formal training."
"Thanks, Fledge," Groose uttered, a proud smile forming on his thick lips. "By the way, I think seeing you find your backbone was pretty cool, too. Before all of this, if anyone had told me that you'd be shooting down monsters and helping save the world, I would have laughed in their face until I passed out."
"Yeah..." Fledge drawled, unsure of whether to take Groose's words as a compliment or an insult.
Groose rolled over onto an arm and looked at Fledge sharply.
"If you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll rip that newfound backbone right out of you and pummel you with it."
"There will be none of that, Groose," Zelda said sternly.
Fledge sighed, stretching his lengthy arms behind his head.
"My favorite part was getting to see the world itself," he said. "Lanayru was amazing, even if it is mostly just desert wasteland."
He looked off into the sky for a time, almost sadly.
"I think it's made me realize how small our lives here have been, and I'm anxious to explore more of the surface. By the way, do you think we'll go back there anytime soon?"
"I'm sure of it, Fledge," Zelda said. "To be quite honest, I've been missing the Kikwis, the Ancient Robots, and the Mogmas terribly."
"That Cobal fellow seemed to be especially fond of you and Link," Groose scoffed.
Fledge and Groose continued exchanging thoughts. Zelda glanced over at Link, who laid nearest to her. He was quiet. While this was far from abnormal, she could not help but to sense a heaviness coming from him. He cushioned his head in his hands and stared off into the sky, seemingly disinterested in the discussion at hand. Was he missing Fi? Was he struggling to adjust to normal life? Zelda bit down on her lower lip, wondering whether she should address him. Alas, before she could, she was drawn back into the conversation.
"What about you, Zelda?" Fledge asked excitedly. "We really don't know much about what you did the whole time you were there. Why, I bet you could write a full storybook about it."
"I haven't even fully wrapped my mind around it all, honestly," she said, trying to focus on her words, though her mind was still on Link and his silence. "Personally, I would love to take you all to the springs sometime. While I know it won't quite be the same for you, being there in Hylia's presence was just so... amazing. It was like being in a state of complete peace and rest. The air was crisp, the water was pure, and despite everything else going on, I just felt safe. Truly, truly safe."
"Speaking of," Groose said, "how was it having Hylia's power?"
Zelda drew in a deep breath, feeling somewhat saddened, noticing the Goddess' absence.
"Indescribable," she said finally.
This answer seemed to satisfy both Groose and Fledge. They continued their banter, with Zelda chiming in from time-to-time. Link remained stoic and silent, lost in the night sky and his own thoughts. The following day was a jubilant one. The entire village of Skyloft, and even residents from far off sky villages, gathered to celebrate the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies. Amidst the eating, drinking, music, dance, and chatter, Gaepora called everyone's attention, with Zelda, Fledge, Groose, and Link at his side.
"Friends, families, and neighbors," he began most gladly. "We are gathered to usher in a new era of peace, harmony, and unity with the expansive world below us. All of this was made possible by the bravery, selflessness, and determination of four of our very own students, who we are recognizing this day."
Zelda stepped forward first, dawning a recreation of the outfit she wore on the day of the Wing Ceremony. In her hand she held the Goddess Harp, which shone brightly under the light of the sun.
"The first is my very own daughter," Gaepora said most proudly. "Since she was a toddler, she has been dedicated to the study of the Goddesses, and her faithfulness has been unmatched. When I first learned that she was the Goddess' chosen Spirit Maiden, well... I was strangely both surprised and not surprised in the slightest."
The onlookers all laughed, many of them understanding Gaepora's confliction well.
"I cannot think of anyone better for the task," he continued. "In her devotion, Zelda left everything and everyone she knew, selflessly putting herself in unimaginable perils..." Gaepora paused as his voice choked briefly "... with the thoughts of her loved ones spurring her on through countless trials. For that, we offer her this, as a token of our eternal gratitude."
Professors Owlan and Horwell extended a simple, yet rather thick, book to Zelda. Its outer cover was made of a pleasingly soft leather dyed green. She flipped through the pages and was stunned to find them empty. Perhaps more shocking, however, was that the pages were made of a strange, glossy and golden paper. It was most beautiful and shimmered with every page turn. The front cover of the book was simply titled, Historia. With a pleased grin, Zelda looked at her father for an explanation.
"That, my dear," he said proudly, "is an empty vessel for you to fill. Surely, the new era we are entering will need to be studied, and our knowledge of the ancient texts will need amended. The world below us is vast and we know little about it. Therefore, at your disposal are our greatest map-drawers and illustrators. As you see fit, you may study and record all of your findings, and all you recall from your time with the Goddess, that the world may never forget where we were today as we progress forward into a fruitful future."
Zelda held the book to her chest, eyes widened in excitement.
"This is wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Why, I want to get started right away. We can begin at the Sealed Temple, mapping the area and telling the story of how the Goddess Statue was erected there, only to be taken and then later returned."
Gaepora and others laughed kindly, amused by her zeal.
"The story of the world is yours to tell," he said proudly.
With a bow of her head, Zelda stepped back into her place. Fledge and Groose then stepped forward.
"While Zelda was bound to her destiny by prophecy," Gaepora began, "Fledge and Groose, chose - in one way or another - to offer themselves to the journey. When students are entrusted to the Knight Academy, we vow to prepare them to lead lives of valor and servitude. However, these two outstanding students have instead taught us what it means to live out these disciplines. Because of this..."
Groose and Fledge exchanged curious glances before their brows raised in anticipation.
"You will both be accepted into the next class in the Knight Academy, effective immediately. And, you each will be Honorary Knights until you graduate."
Their fellow students cheered. Fledge and Groose gasped and gawked in excitement.
"Me? An Honorary Knight?" Fledge exclaimed breathlessly.
"You earned it, pal," Groose said, offering him a playful shoulder punch.
Gaepora raised a hand to quell the crowd once more.
"And finally," he said, brow furrowing.
Link drew in a deep breath and lowered his head, stepping out ever so slightly from his peers. He kept his hands held tightly at his sides. His green eyes glanced over at Gaepora, though his head remained lowered. Everyone knew such attention was likely hard for him, and all tried to remain supportive.
"Link," Gaepora smiled. "A millennia ago, Link's fate was tied to that of a sword that was hidden here on Skyloft. I was with him the night he received the sword and his calling, right after Zelda was ripped away from us. I must say, I expected Link to, understandably, hesitate to accept such a life-changing call."
Gaepora's gaze softened as he looked proudly upon the quiet hero.
"Alas, Link did no such thing. The legends told of an unbreakable spirit, destined to save the world from the evil and malice that threatened it. Little did we know, that spirit came to us in the form of an orphaned child a decade ago. Not only has Link proven himself to be an exceptional student since that fateful night, he has also proven himself to be an admirable young man, a friend with unmatched loyalty, and the hero of destiny we've waited for, for many generations. To him, we owe our very lives. While there is nothing we can give him to show our appreciation, we hope this is at least scratches the surface."
Professors Owlan and Horwell stepped aside from their respective places. Behind them was some sort of object, over which was draped a white cloth. As the cloth was pulled, Link looked away out of fear it was a statue of him, as that was possibly the worst thing he could have thought of. Alas, Zelda gently nudged his arm, beckoning him to look. His forest green eyes peered upward, and a sting of pain hit him in his chest, though it was a good pain.
There, before them, was the likeness of Fi, carved out of the finest and strongest stone. She stood upon one of her pointed shoes, with the other outstretched behind her, as though she was dancing. Her cape was raised behind her shoulders, curved to make it look as though it was truly floating in the wind. Her expressionless gaze faced forward most beautifully. As Link continued to look upon her, he almost thought he could hear her melodic voice and movements being carried in the breeze, which danced through his honey blonde locks.
She stood upon a pedestal, on which was a carefully crafted inscription.
"Fi - The Hero's Companion and Friend."
"I helped with the inscription," Zelda whispered playfully.
"Furthermore," Gaepora added, "you are hereby named, from this day henceforth, a Knight of Skyloft."
Link flinched slightly at the sound of this, while the crowd roared most excitedly. He wanted to cover his ears at first, yet he allowed himself to smile and enjoy the moment. The music and festivities continued. Many went to admire Fi's statue, and others congratulated Link, Fledge, Groose, and Zelda. The air was filled with the smells of many lovely dishes and appetizers and the sounds of nearly a dozen instruments being played all at once. People leapt and twirled and laughed as they danced. Even the Loftwings squawked as they flew by the celebration. As breathtakingly joyful as it was, Link found himself quickly wearing thin and looked for an opportunity to respectfully slip away.
When he did, he drew in a breath, relishing the peace and quiet, though he could still hear the music and chatter in the distance. He ran a hand through his hair and lowered his shoulders, allowing himself to relax. As he looked around village, emptied of its people who were all gathered at the light tower, he caught a glimpse of something shining on the edge of the island. The sun reflected off of it, creating a halo effect at the golden top of its frame. It was Zelda, sitting on the edge of the island.
She heard his steps approaching, moving delicately through the swaying grass. His shadow appeared beside her before he lowered himself down to sit on the edge of the island. Their legs dangled in the mercies of the wind. Zelda, reminded of the Wing Ceremony, was once again tempted to rest her head on Link's shoulder. The thought, however, sent a shiver down her spine.
"Déjà vu," she said, forcing a chuckle.
"Hopefully with a happier ending this time," he added
"It's already happier," she said. "You're a Knight now! That's amazing, Link."
Link simply nodded. Zelda glanced down, unsure of what to make of Link's recently withdrawn, almost sulky state. Though she felt the need deep within her heart to confront him, she contained herself and attempted to keep things light instead.
"I know we've had nothing but accolades and praise since we returned," she began softly. "But I don't believe I've had the chance to properly thank you for all you've done."
"You don't need to," he said with a bit of a smirk.
"Oh, yes I do," she argued.
She gently laid a hand upon his, savoring the smoothness of his skin beneath hers.
"I know you're the chosen Hero of Legend, and I cannot think of anyone more suitable for such a title, but I also know that everything you endured, from going to the surface, to fighting Ghirahim and all of his demons, was all for me."
Her lower lip quivered slightly.
"You even suffered your own heartbreak, over and over again, every time we had to be broken apart, all to bring me home. And... I just want you to know... that it means the world to me. You... mean the world to me."
Her glassy blue eyes raised to meet his.
"Thank you, Link."
She could tell by his face that he was taken aback by her gratitude. His eyes widened slightly and his back straightened. His green eyes darted back with forth between each of hers, which she recognized as a sign that he was thinking of what words he wanted to string together. She offered him a soft smile of patience as she continued to watch him think. Yet, she was not met by words, as she expected.
With a sharp breath in, Link leaned forward, tilting his head. As the edges of their lips touched, time around them seemed to stop, leaving only them, Link and Zelda, under the warm glow of the afternoon sun. In that moment, the lingering weight of the journey fell from their shoulders. No longer did they recall the monsters and dangers, nor the heartbreak and pain. All that remained was the entire world, outstretched before them, completely at peace...
... and so were they, at long last.
THE END