Chapter 2

Link and I dropped from our loftwings and landed in the plaza by the lighthouse once more. "That was a great ride." Link said, stretching his arms out and rolling his shoulders.

"You're loftwing really is amazing." I complimented him. "Especially considering everything the poor guy has been through this morning."

"I must say that I am very lucky to have him. He truly is a magnificent companion and he glides so well. I'm truly proud of him." Link said.

"Well Link, I'm going to fly back to Father and tell him what happened." I ran off the platform leaving Link alone in the plaza. I mounted my loftwing once again and flew back to the Statue of the Goddess where my father was conversing with Professor Owlan. "Father!" I called from my perch.

"Zelda?" He asked confused. He found me in the sky and waved with great joy. I landed softly in the grass. "Have you had any luck Zelda? Did you find Link's loftwing?" I explained to Father that Link's loftwing was found penned into a small alcove just below the waterfall. Neither Link nor I knew who had placed the poor thing in that cramped prison but what was important was that he had been freed and Link was free to participate in the ceremony.

"Then I suppose there is no reason to further delay the ceremony." Professor Owlan smiled reassuringly. I returned that smile and ran quickly for the plaza. Link was not alone when I found him; Groose and his band of merry boys found him again and hassled him some more.

"When I heard Zelda made that sailcloth herself, there was no way I was going to let some scrawny clown snatch that prize from me. Oh yes, that sailcloth, Zelda's sailcloth, will be mine." I rolled my eyes at Groose; he couldn't stop talking about the ceremony and his confidence that he would be this year's winner. Sometimes, I wondered why we was so motivated to win today. "Oh man, I bet she was thinking about me when she was stitching it."

I raised one of my eyebrows and gave Link the look.

"I don't know." He whispered.

"Yup, I can see it now. First, I win the big race, and then Zelda and I finish the ceremony together on the statue, just the two of us…"

"I think he's actually lost it." Link whispered in my ear.

"It'll be our special moment alone. Nobody is stopping me and Zelda from having our moment. Oh it's so real…I can…I can see it." Strich waved his arms frantically to get Groose's attention. Cawlin said, "Psst, Groose! Psst" Groose had finally noticed his friends and said, "What? Can't you two see I'm in the middle of…?" He turned around and realized that I was standing right behind him. "GAH!" He exclaimed.

I folded my fists on my hips. "Care to explain what you meant by our special moment alone?" I asked him.

"I uh…nothing big, really. Just…just…" Groose tried to explain. He looked over at Link. "Link!"

"What?" He asked.

"Yeah! I was just telling my buddy here how glad I was he found that red bird of his. Boy, am I looking forward to a fair race!" He chuckled awkwardly and cleared his throat. "Anyhow, later, Zelda. Look for me during the race. I'll be the one pulling off the dangerous moves." The three of them left the plaza and made their way to the waterfall where the ceremony would start. Link was angry with Groose but I couldn't understand why; I missed their argument.

"Did you hear that guy? A fair race?" I asked Link.

"Groose doesn't know what fair is. That guy will always find some way to make things go his way." Link said, growing slightly angrier.

"Yeah, the chances of that happening are just about less than zero." I agreed.

"You got that right."

"Either way, don't let those fools get you down, Link! Just go out there and fly the best you can. I know you got those guys beat and deep down I think you do too."

"Yeah." Link said, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. He smiled bashfully at me, agreeable but still unsure of himself.

"That's the spirit Link! Trust me, you can win this!" Warmth moved all around me; the idea of sharing in the special ceremony with my best friend made my body quiver with joy. If anyone could do this, it was Link. Link gazed at me like he wanted to say something more but there was a loud whistle in the distance cutting him off.

"The Wing Ceremony will now begin! Participating students, please assemble!" Professor Owlan called from the starting line.

"It looks like its race time." I said.

"We better hurry. I think we've kept them waiting long enough, don't you?" Link asked me. I smiled and raced him to the starting line. Groose and his gang beat us to the meeting place; my father and Professor Owlan were already in place. Professor Owlan's golden loftwing sat faithfully next to him awaiting instructions for takeoff.

The sun shone proudly upon Skyloft that day; the seniors from last year synchronized in the skies for a beautiful opening flight. Professor Owlan positioned himself in-between Father and his prized golden loftwing; he was beaming with excitement.

"Your attention please. At last, we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony. I was beginning to worry we would have to proceed without Link but that is no longer a concern. I'm glad you could all make it. Before we begin, I'll explain the rules for the competition. I have attached a small statuette to my loftwing, whom I will send to the skies. On my signal, each of you will dash off the ledge and call your loftwing. Whoever catches the bird and claims the statuette will be this year's champion."

"As you well know," He continued. "today's champion will graduate to the next class, bringing him one step closer to knighthood. He will also receive a gift from the young woman chosen to play the role of the goddess in this year's ritual. Today is special for many reasons; today marks the 25th anniversary of our institution. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the winner shall receive this gift atop the Statue of the Goddess. This year, the young woman playing the goddess made this gift herself, and as you well know, this year the role of the goddess shall be played by the lovely Zelda."

I smiled and waved to the boys. "Good luck today!" I said, winking in Link's direction. He blushed a little and waved back to me. I returned his blush.

"Alright boys, let's see your finest flying out there. Show me just how hard you've been practicing. Also, I want to see good, clean flying. Anyone caught interfering with other riders will answer to me!" Professor Owlan threatened.

"That goes double for you, Groose!" Father commented. Groose acted shocked by Father's dare, as if the idea alone was enough to make him faint. The nerve of that guy.

"Alright gentleman, line up. On my mark, we'll begin the competition." Professor Owlan's loftwing took off into the sky, the statuette tied securely to its leg. Professor Owlan shouted Go and the boys raced to dive off the ledge. I darted there as well as soon as they were all mounted on their loftwings. I watched Link carefully; I worried that he did not have enough practice after all; his loftwing seemed a little hesitant to fly.

"Do not fear my daughter," Father said, "He will be alright."

"I know that Father. I'm worried that we won't win this year. Link hasn't worked as hard as some of the others but he has the heart to be a knight."

"Just have faith in him Zelda and he will meet your expectations." Father was right; Link could do this.

"I say, Link has his head in the game today." Professor Owlan complimented. "That boy just may win this."

"He will Professor Owlan." I said. "Link and his loftwing work as a team. He won't disappoint." Suddenly, Link's loftwing was struck by Groose. "Hey! He can't do that!" I shouted angrily.

"I knew Groose would do this." Owlan said. "That boy had no boundaries when it comes to getting what he wants."

"You'll have to have a serious talk with him when this is over." Father said.

"So I must." I watched Link again; his loftwing easily recovered from the hit and flew on with more ferocity than before. Owlan's loftwing craftily swooped to and fro, keeping the others well off his tail, but not Link. Link came at him from the side and grabbed that statuette right off of Owlan's loftwing. He held it up in the air victoriously and flew back to Skyloft.

"He did it!" I screamed with joy. "He did it!" I ran for the ledge; I couldn't contain myself.

"Zelda wait!" Father called.

"Link!" I shouted. Link looked up to the platform and saw me.

"Zelda!" He called back. Before I could talk myself out of it, I dove from the platform and tried to jump onto Link's loftwing. Link called my name again and rushed to catch me. I landed right in Link's arms. "Are you crazy?!" Link asked me.

I giggled. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Great flying Link! Congratulations."

Link chuckled. "Thanks."

"Now we better get on with the ceremony." This was it; now it was my turn. My heart beat so fast I could hardly hold it in my chest. Link and I jumped from his loftwing, landing on the very top of the statue. "Link, had me the statuette you grabbed in the race. We must offer it to the goddess."

"Here." Link simply said. I wished that he wouldn't ruin this whole ritual by opening his mouth. I took the statuette and placed it on the offering plate of the statue. It was time to officially begin the ceremony; my next duty was to play the goddess's harp. I strummed the strings in a beautiful melody while our loftwings lingered in the sky above the statue.

I strummed the last note and turned to face Link once more. "Link, take my hand and kneel please."

"Yes, I will." Link said. I held out my hand and placed my other hand over my heart. Link took my hand and knelt on the ground in front of me, closing his eyes and tilting his head forward. I recited a prayer to the goddess.

"Great goddess, guiding light and protector of our people, grant us your blessing and mercy as I act in your stead during this sacred ceremony." Then I recited the words I had been practicing for this ceremony, the very words said to have been told to the Chosen Hero by the goddess herself. "Valiant youth who grasped victory at the celebration of the bird folk…in accordance with old ways…I now bestow the blessings of the goddess upon you." I took the sailcloth from around my shoulders and folded it neatly in my hands. Link opened his eyes and gazed at the sailcloth. "The blessings of the goddess drift down from the heavens aloft a sail, which I now pass to you. Will you accept this gift? If so, please say you will."

"You will." He said, taking the sailcloth. "Uh…I mean I will." He giggled at his goof, I couldn't help but giggle once.

"Quit goofing, Link. This is supposed to be a sacred ritual, remember?"

"Right, sorry." Link said. He coughed once and wiped the smile from his face.

"You know, they say that the goddess gave her sailcloth to her chosen hero long ago." I informed him. "Of course the one you're holding isn't the same one. I've been working hard to finish this sailcloth to give to today's champion." I blushed a little as I told Link, "I'm really glad I got to give it to you."

Link blushed a little as well. "I'm glad too Zelda."

"Make sure you take good care of it okay?"

"I will." He smiled, melting my heart.

"Thanks for making it up here to do this with me today like you promised, Link." I said.

"You're welcome. Have I ever let you down before?" I just shook my head "no" and tried to finish.

"You know, we should really finish this ritual." I hesitantly stepped closer to him; what would he think? Would he get the wrong idea and do something that he wasn't supposed to or would he just go with it? "You do know what happens at the end right?"

"Nope." Link responded, shrugging his shoulders.

"Really? I thought you would've figured it out by now." Now I was going to have some fun; I rushed to get closer to Link. He stepped back slightly and his eyes widened with concern.

"Zelda, what do I have to do?" He managed to ask me.

I smiled and turned him around. "You have to jump off the statue!" I cheered.

"I have to what?! Oh no! I don't think so, don't you even dare. This is a joke." Link protested. He looked down to the plaza and gulped.

"To finish the ceremony, you have land in the center of the plaza."

"You've got to be kidding. There's no way I'm doing that."

I giggled. "Just how brave are you? If you were fearless, you wouldn't even open up the sailcloth until the last second."

"What?!"

"So are you ready to jump?"

"No!" Link protested. "I said I'm not doing that." I pushed him off the statue and watched him land right in the center. I giggled and jumped from the statue myself. My loftwing caught me and glided me down to the plaza where I met him on the ground. "Are you insane? I could've died!" Link screamed at me.

"That was perfect, you're amazing Link." I said.

"Oh well…I don't know about that." He bashfully played with his hair. And then I blushed because I realized what I had just said. He didn't seem bothered by what I said and my words rang true in my heart.

"You know Link, seeing as how you won today…and with the weather being so nice…"

"Yeah?" Link asked, beckoning me to finish what I was trying to say.

"Would you like to, you know, fly around the clouds together?"

"I can't think of anything I'd rather do." Link said. He offered me his hand. I took it and we walked to the platform. "Ladies first." He said. I giggled and leapt from the platform. One by one, we called our loftwings and landed safely aboard them. We lapped Skyloft a few times, weaving in and out of the giant clouds. The day turned out to be a wonderful day for the ceremony and flying through the sky. Link and his crimson loftwing flew a little bit ahead of me and my loftwing. I decided that I wanted to tell Link what had been on my mind.

"Link! Hey Link!" I called as loud as I could. It worked; Link turned his head to see what I was calling him for. He slowed up and gave me his undivided attention. "Today was amazing. Watching you win the Wing Ceremony and performing the ritual together…I'll always remember this."

"Me too."

"It really was wonderful."

"It sure was. I can't think of anyone I would rather have performed the ceremony with than with you." Link said.

"You know, Link, there's something that I have been meaning to talk to you about." Just then, I was struck by a powerful blast of wind. After I recovered, Link and I glanced in the distance where we saw a massive force tunneling toward us. "What is that?"

"I don't know, we should get out of here." Link suggested. I tried to turn my loftwing away from the wind tunnel but she was being pulled toward the center of it. "Zelda look out!"

"What's going on?" All of a sudden, I felt as if I was pushed off of my loftwing and I looked up at Link floating above me. "Ahh! Link!" I screamed.

"Zelda! No!" I heard Link scream and then everything went black.