Chapter Fourteen
Link stands next to the edge of Skyloft and stares out into the open sky. "So, how do we call the... what are they called again?"
"Loftwings." I reply, walking over to stand next to him. "You have to run of the edge and whistle for them. But since each person in Skyloft had their own Loftwing the bird answered to that person's specific whistle, so I don't exactly know if they'll answer."
"Well," Sheik says as he stands next to us. "It's either we stay here and get beaten to a pulp by a Guardian or we fall to our death in a different realm. So either way we die. I vote falling, at least it'll be without the pounding. Wait, do you think if we fall here, there's even going to be a ground?"
"Is there any way that doesn't involve certain death?" Navi grumbles from under Link's hat.
"Only one way to find out," Link takes a deep breath and jumps off the edge of Skyloft.
"What are you doing idiot, you could've warned me! I'm still in here you know!" Navi yells.
I hold my breath as he whistles. Nothing. There's no Loftwing.
Another few seconds pass, it's been too long. Loftwings are usually instantaneous.
I'm about to look over the edge and yell down to him in a panic when he appears on the back of a crimson Loftwing, whooping and laughing. I smile in relief.
"Well, I guess it's safe to jump." Sheik jumps and whistles. The blue Loftwing picks him up.
I teeter at the edge. I'm afraid to jump, even though I know the Loftwing will catch me. But the two boys are already flying, and they have no idea where the Lumpy Pumpkin is, or even what it is, so I jump and whistle as loud as I can. Which isn't even very loud.
For a second, I'm weightless and there's nothing but clouds. Then the yellow Loftwing is underneath me and I'm neck-in-neck with Link and Sheik.
"So, where do we need to go?" Link shouts.
"You see that island with the ginormous pumpkin?" I yell back. "That's the Lumpy Pumpkin."
"Never would've guessed," Sheik yells.
Link nods and steers his bird there. He's a pro at this. Sheik and I struggle for a bit, but then we get going in the direction of the island.
For a second I panic, because I'm used to Link dropping off from his Loftwing and using Zelda's sailcloth to land. We don't have that. But the birds land and let us off. I guess Link was the only one who dropped from a thousand feet to land.
I stare at the huge blue hued pumpkin in front of me. I always thought it was a bit weird that they built a giant pumpkin and named it the Lumpy Pumpkin for their big awesome city restaurant. But, pumpkins are pretty common Zelda games, so it makes sense.
"Get down!" Link tugs me to the ground. I'm about to ask why when a Watcher clangs noisily around the corner. The light of the lantern only misses us because we're crouched down. We would have summoned the Guardians. That was close.
When the Watcher leaves we get up cautiously and walk to the front door. A huge Guardian stands next to it, but it's open. There are even Watchers in here. How are we going to get up to the chandelier with Watchers around every corner?
We run into the kitchen and peak up over the side. I take it back. They aren't around ever corner, they're in every square inch of the place. And there are at least five Guardians. It's like they decided to throw a death party. There's no way we can make it up there!
"So how do we get it down now?" Sheik asks, eying the Watchers.
"In the game, Link rolls into the second floor railing twice and it comes crashing down." I reply.
"But now we can't get up there." Link says.
"Why didn't he just use one of his weapons to get it down?" Navi asks from under the hat.
"You couldn't take them out in the game. I don't know why he didn't use them in real life."
"I get the feeling it's because of that sign." Sheik says, pointing to an old sign that hangs right next to the door to go in.
NO WEAPONS ALLOWED!
ALL WEAPONS WILL BE CONFISCATED,
AND NOT GIVEN BACK ANY TIME SOON!
"Yeah," Link agrees after reading it. "That's probably why."
An idea comes to me. "Hey, Link?"
"Yeah?"
"Since your Sacred Weapons are stored in the Sacred Realm, can you send for them?"
His eyebrows go up in surprise. "I don't think so, but I could try."
He closes his eyes for a minute. The Clawshot materializes in his hands. He stares at it in surprise. "I thought Other Me said that I couldn't use weapons."
Shiek looks surprised too. "I guess he only meant your sword and shield."
"Guess so," He aims up at the Heart Container and lets it go. The Clawshot grabs its target and brings it flying back to us.
Link admires the Heart Container. "These things always have potions and rupees inside, I love them."
"It's not fair that in the game you only get a Piece of Heart," I say, gazing at the crystal container.
Link makes a face. "I hate it when they're broken like that. I just means that I have absolutely nothing to gain from them."
I laugh a little. "In the games when you get a full Heart Container you get more life, so a Piece of Heart is actually pretty good. If you collect four of them, you get a full Heart Container and get more life."
"What?" Link cries. "That's so unfair! They're absolutely useless to me when it's only a piece!"
"Link, they're crystal! Crystal's worth money! Even if they don't give you more resistance to dying you can get some rupees from them, I'm sure."
He shakes his head. "Maybe in your world, but here people find them all the time. They're left by the goddesses and really pretty common. They're stupid when they're broken, it means they've been opened and are now worthless."
"Hey guys?" Sheik asks staring into the restaurant. "I hate to interrupt, but we're in trouble."
"What do you mean?" Link says whipping around. Both of us get a little startled. The Watchers have gotten closer, sensing that we're here. As one they float towards us, their lantern's light skimming Link's arm. He jumps back.
"We need to get out of here!" He yells. We make a beeline for the door.
When we step out of the door, we all gasp a bit. There are even more Watchers out side. How are we going to get off of this island?
Then there's an opening between them. We take advantage of it. We run through them, all of them simultaneously jingling in our direction and trying to follow us, but we're gone and flying our Loftwings before they get a chance to call the Guardians.
"Next up," Sheik yells from his perch on his Loftwing. "The Isle of Songs, right?"
~X~
We fly into the Thunderhead. And my first reaction is yikes.
Instead of Skytails flying around there are Watchers. Everywhere. We dodge them best we can, but it's hard. Many of them jingle earnestly at us. They sense us.
Somehow we make it to the Isle of Songs. It's really pretty, and even more ancient than Skyloft. Our Loftwings drop us off and we walk across the walkway leading to the large cylinder stone building. We shimmy our way through the small hole that's barely big enough for Link to get in if he was fully equipped with his shield and the Master Sword. But when we get inside, we stop in our tracks.
There's only a narrow pathway suspended in thin air that ends with a chest, I'm guessing the one Other Link wants us to get, and the Triforce with bird feathers behind it. The symbol on the Skyward Sword game. The pathway has no railings, if we make a misstep then it's down into pitch blackness, I can't see the bottom. But in our path stands a sleeping Guardian and a Watcher. And it senses us.
"Sheik," Link whispers suddenly as we back away from them. "Go back to Skyloft and get to the Statue. The only way to get to the chest is to pass the Watcher and wake the Guardians. When they wake up, deactivate them. We'll wait a few minutes for you to get there."
Sheik reacts instantly. "I'll be quick." He shimmies back out.
Link's plan goes bad quickly, though. The Watcher still know we're here. A few minutes after Sheik leaves, before we can get out the small hole the light from its lantern hits my tennis shoes. It jingles with excitement, and for a minute the whole world is silent and still. Then it folds in on itself, and the world tints with orange.
Pounding so forceful the vibrations rattle my chest fills my ears. The Guardian's head snaps up, it's eyes glowing. Link pushes me out the hole, and I get out as fast as I can. He follows after, the Guardian's sword barely misses his foot. We run across the walkway, but stop short because of the Guardians that stare viciously at us with those glowing eyes. They're everywhere. Link reaches for his sword, but it's not there. We're done for.
He closes his eyes. "I can't get my weapons." He says in a panicked voice.
We back up, until we're pressed up against the building. I close my eyes and bury my face in Link's tunic.
I wish I could say goodbye to Mom, Dad and David.
As the Guardian brings down his club, Link twists us so the weapon misses us by centimeters. We run pass them, trying to buy more time. What's taking Sheik so long? Did he get hit by a Guardian?
But as we run, Guardians flying down on us, trying to get a hit, they all freeze. Just before one of them can hit Link in the head with a club, inches from his face. They disappear and the world returns to normal. Or, at least, the tinted blue and ringing silence normal of the Silent Realm. I breathe out a sigh. That was too close. Link sighs too.
We hurry back into the Isle of Songs. The Watcher and Guardian are both gone, repositioned. Link runs over to the chest and opens it. A light shines from it. I walk over to it too.
Inside lies a Goddess Plume. They're supposed to be extremely rare, dropped by the goddess herself. When Link asks what it is, I explain it to him.
"I guess Zelda wants it back," He says as he carefully picks it up and drops it in his pouch. We exit the building just as Sheik runs up to it.
"Oh, thank Hylia!" Sheik says as he stops in front of us. "I thought I took too long. Those flying Guardians started trailing me."
Link smiles at him. "You cut it close, but we got it." He holds up the Goddess Plume.
"And I got the Tear Vessel," Sheik holds it up. It's pretty, like dew hanging from a flower. "Let's get back to Skyloft and deliver these to Link. The other Link."