Chapter Six: Found
Zelda wasn't going to hear any of his protests, and she seemed to ignore him even after he had explained that he could normally feel Balaen's mind, but that he couldn't sense him near. She ignored him so much, that he was almost sure that she hadn't heard him at all. She pushed him to the edge of the pier and smiled at him. He jumped and looked over his shoulder, calling Balaen with his mind. The bird wasn't near enough to hear him calling him, and that worried him greatly. He began to panic a little, looking over his shoulders several times. Each time though Zelda turned her body so she was positioned over the shoulder he was trying to look over.
"Here we are," she said cheerfully, sensing nothing wrong. "Go on now. Jump off the edge and call your Loftwing. It's almost time for the Ceremony, so try to practice seriously for once!"
"Zelda," Link cried as he looked at her over his shoulder, not amused by her playful smile. "I keep telling you-"
"Hmm?" she asked teasingly. "Oh yeah? You can't 'sense' your bird out there? Oh, I get it. You're trying to weasel out of trying to practice! Nice try, but you're not fooling me."
"Zelda," Link said, giving her a look that clearly said he wasn't joking. "I'm not making it up. I'm really not."
"Off you go!"
Zelda shoved him hard off the pier. Usually this wouldn't be a problem, more of a nuisance that he would pay back later. But right now Link just felt terrified. He gave a startled yelp as he fell off the edge of the pier. He flipped over so that his back was facing the ground and he was looking up, searching for any sign of Balaen. He couldn't see that familiar flash of red anywhere, and for the first time in years he felt terrified of the open air.
"Okay Link," Zelda called, still not seeming to notice his distress. "Call Balaen!"
Link put both his forefingers in his mouth and gave out an earsplitting whistle. It was the kind that he knew Balaen could hear and recognize from the other side of Skyloft, one that he knew to come flying as fast as he could when he heard it because it meant Link was in the open air. Link looked around, hoping he was wrong and he just couldn't sense his bird today. But as he kept falling he realized that something was definitely wrong. The wind was roaring past his ears, stinging them and reminding him once again why he had been terrified in the first place. He saw Gaepora slowly step forward and look over the edge as one second became two, then three.
He saw Zelda jump and look down at him in horror as she realized that Balaen wasn't coming. She didn't hesitate though. She leaped right off after him, letting out a whistle as she did so. As she did, Peleca dive bombed right in front of her, tucking her wings in just a little as Zelda grabbed her beautiful purple shoulders. Peleca dove straight for him, knowing exactly what Zelda wanted. Loftwings were good about that, even if they couldn't hear their rider's thoughts like Balaen could. As she neared however Link knew it was going to hurt her.
She wasn't big enough to carry him and Zelda without getting hurt. Balaen was the only Loftwing in the entire Skyloft who even had a chance of doing so. Even so, he felt her strong talons grip at his right arm first, jerking it a little painfully as her momentum and his fought for a second. The second talon grabbed his right leg, dangling him in a rather embarrassing way. Even so, he wasn't complaining.
"Hang in there Link," he heard Zelda call from somewhere above him. "I've got you!"
Peleca struggled with his weight but managed to turn and make her way back to the safety of the pier. She was flapping hard, and he felt her lurch in the winds she knew so well, but eventually she crashed, dropping him onto the hard dirt and just laying there. Zelda instantly leaped off and started shushing the bird, who was making soft wheezing noises instead of the normal screeches Loftwings made. She stroked her neck as Link struggled to get his racing heart and breathing back under control. Zelda's father slowly made his way over, eying Link.
"Are you two all right?" Gaepora asked. Link managed to nod.
"I'm sorry friend," Zelda cooed to Peleca. "I didn't mean to push you so hard. You didn't sprain your wing did you?"
Link managed to get his breathing under control as Zelda continued to pet Peleca's neck gently, cooing to her gently as she tried to help her friend. Link wasn't offended by this, and he knew he would have done the same if he had thought Balaen had hurt himself. Thinking of his friend again though made Link even more worried. Where was he? Link wasn't mad that Balaen hadn't been there to catch him, though he could feel his old fear threatening to resurface. He was just worried. Why hadn't Balaen come? Had something happened? And on today of all days!
"This is very odd, Link," Gaepora said, obviously thinking along the same lines as he looked up towards the sky then back to him. "What could have possibly happened to Balaen? For a bird of ignore the call of his master...unheard of!"
Link knew he was right. Even during mating season the Loftwings would only leave for an hour at a time, then they would return and fly around the Skyloft for hours before flying off again. They didn't go far at night either because they could hardly see better than humans during the night time, though their daylight vision was far better than humans, and their hearing too. Link managed to sit up and looked up at Gaepora, who was now watching him with evident worry as the boy stood.
"And you still can't sense your bird nearby," Gaepora said. "eh, Link? I'd never heard of anyone having that ability before...not in a hundred years...but I'm inclined to believe you after what just happened."
"How do you think he got me in the air in the first place?" Link asked with a sigh. "I was terrified of flying. That's how I was always so good at flying, because I could sense his mind. I can't sense him anywhere now though!"
"This is quite a problem," Gaepora sighed. "especially considering the Wing Ceremony is about to start..."
"Link," Zelda said quietly from behind him, making him turn in surprise. She sounded guilty. "when you said you didn't sense your Loftwing, well I should have believed you... I'm sorry."
"N-No," he said, surprise as she looked up at him with almost tearful eyes. "It was my fault for keeping it a secret. I just wasn't sure how anyone would react..."
"I still should have believed you," she said. "I mean, I guess I've always kind of known...you've always had such a strange way with Loftwings...but that's not the point. I need to tend Peleca, so I'll catch up to you later. You'd better go on ahead and see if you can find where Balaen has gone!"
Link was honestly touched by her understanding, and Gaepora's too. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. Zelda was his best friend besides Balaen and Gaepora might have well have been his father. He knew that he probably should have known that they would understand his strange abilities. Then however a bell began to ring, the one over the Academy. They all looked up suddenly as they realized that the race would be starting soon.
"My, how did it get to be so late?" Gaepora asked, glancing at Link. "If I recall correctly, this Instructor Horwell is presiding over the Ceremony. Link, you should go explain the situation to him and see if he's willing to delay the race a little so that you can find Balaen."
"Right," Link said with a nod, his worry clearly coming across his voice. He took a deep breath to try and calm down. It didn't work.
"But Father," Zelda said, sounding both worried and a little amused. "you're the headmaster of the Academy! If Link asks Instructor Horwell, he'll probably just come talk to you about it."
"Ah," her father laughed. "quite true. As usual, you make an excellent point my dear. Very well, I'll explain the situation to him myself. Link, run along and tell Instructor Horwell to come see me in my Quarters."
Link nodded then quickly ran towards the Academy. He couldn't run that long, seeing how he'd always just been a sprinter, but he had no time to lose now. He had to find Balaen, but he couldn't miss his one chance at becoming a Knight either! He had to get to Instructor Horwell and then find Balaen before anything else could go wrong.
He managed to make it down the stairs, and his lungs were beginning to burn. He ignored the startled questions from the man still fixing the fence. He ran instead, now out of breath again, to Instructor Horwell, who was standing where he had left him with Mia. The Remlit was no where in sight now, however the man turned with obvious surprise to Link, who was breathing hard. He blinked as he watched him a bit, smiling at him as if to calm him. It was obvious though when Link looked up at him that Link was shook up.
"What's wrong Link?" Horwell asked. "You look a little pale..."
"Balaen's," Link gasped. "Missing."
"WHAT?" Horweel gasped in horror. Not a single person in Skyloft could imagine the terror going through the boy's mind right now. "Balaen is missing? How strange and troubling...do you...think you can find him?"
"I've got to start looking now," Link replied, finally managing to catch his breath and straighten. "I can't wait. Something could be wrong!"
"You're going to start looking now?" Horwell gasped in disbelief. "How will you make it back in time to fly in the Ceremony? It looks like your participation in the Ceremony hinges on feather or not you can find your bird on time..." Link's face told him quickly that he wasn't in the mood for his puns. "Ahem, excuse me..."
"Oh," Link said, quickly before he started making more puns. "Headmaster Gaepora needs to see you in his Quarters."
"I see," Horwell said. "So he Headmaster has summoned me? All right then, I'll go speak with him immediately. I still owe you for helping me earlier, so don't worry about the ceremony for now. You focus on finding Balaen!"
"Usually I prefer people don't feel indebted to me," Link admitted quietly. "But I think I'l let it slide this time."
Before Horwell could respond, Link turned again and hurried off. He leaped over the ledge of the upper story to the bottom floor, where the rest of the Academy was. He wasn't being nearly as careful as he should have been, worried much more about Balaen and if he was hurt. He ignored Horwell's quiet protests and just ran through the front gate and down into the lower levels of town. He didn't have the slightest clue where he was going to start looking. However he noticed a little boy named Gully who kept rolling into a tree. Confused as he was as to why he was doing that, he kept running past him. He didn't have time for this.
Link turned and kept running, wondering where he was supposed to start looking. Surely he wouldn't just see him flying around the main pier for the race? As he drew closer to the small turbine and pier, he saw Groose, Cawlin and Strich. Strich was massaging Groose's back as he sat in a stool, and Cawling was apparently massaging Groose's hand. Link nearly groaned aloud when he saw them sitting there before the race was ready. He should have known they'd be here. Though he couldn't help but wonder why they seemed so at ease.
As he drew closer however he noticed that they had several scratches and marks on their arms, and Groose's hair didn't seem to be sticking as straight up in the air as it usually was. Link couldn't help but pause as he stopped behind them. They were facing away from him, so they had yet to notice him. He silently listened to their conversation.
"You know Groose," Cawlin complained. "that sure was a pain, what with all that scratching and pecking."
"Course it was," Groose laughed confidently. "You thought a big Crimson Loftwing like that was going to go down without a fight? But we got him, and I don't care how tough those birds are supposed to be. He's not getting out of that pen anytime soon, boys."
Apparently done with his massage, Groose stood. Strich and Cawlin turned to walk away and Groose dusted his pants off, only to come face to face with Link. They both froze and stared at him as Groose cracked his neck and then turned around. Link should have known that these guys were the ones behind Balaen's disappearance. It was always something.
"Whoa," Groose gasped in an exceedingly guilty manner. "Link! So, uh...yeah. Just how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough Groose," Link said. "Long enough."
Groose however knew that Link couldn't touch him, not if he wanted to participate in the race today. Not if he wanted to become a Knight. Link took a deep breath to try and keep himself from getting angry, and Groose just laughed as he began to circle Link cockily.
"What's your problem, anyway?" Groose asked. "Oh, wait...I got it. You're here to talk about today's race. I can see it in those dopey eyes of yours. They're pleading, 'Oh, Groose, can you just find it in your heart to let me win today? Please!'."
Link decided to keep his usual face when dealing with these three, a blank one with little emotion. Heck, they hardly ever saw him without it on. They probably thought it was really dumb. But at the moment, it was pretend he didn't care or punch Groose and never be able to join the race again for any reason.
"You're just desperate to win," Groose goaded. "so you can get some alone time with Zelda on top of the Statue of the Goddess at the end of the ceremony."
He was Zelda's best friend. There's no way he'd want some alone time with her...wait did he? Just what exactly did he think of Zelda anymore? He was sixteen, and apparently that was the same age his mother and father had met...no why was he thinking of them now? Confused, Link just decided to remain as mute as possible. Groose stopped in front of him and looked right into his face, trying to make him mad.
"Well, sorry pal," Groose said. "Groose doesn't do charity for wimps. My advice? Work hard and wish with all your heart. You might even come in second."
Link elected to not make a comment about the fact that Groose just referred to himself in third person. Groose eyed Link for a moment, as if trying to gauge his reaction. However this was something Link had always done, just stared with a blank face and tried not to react. Link was sure that Groose wanted nothing more than for him to punch him, that way he could make sure that he didn't join the race at all, or ever have a chance to.
"Say," Groose said with a chuckle. "come to think of it, how come I don't see your bird? Where is that scruffy pile of red feathers? I can't imagine what could have happened to him. Do you think his tiny brain got confused by all the clouds and he got lost?"
"Give him back," Link warned, and a little anger colored his words now. Groose just sniffed and threw up his hands as if to prove himself innocent.
"Huh?" Groose asked in an unconvincing manner. "I've got now idea what you're talking about." He reached forward and pointed right at Link's face, making him take a step back in surprise. "You know, we're all getting tired of how you never let anyone forget how you and Zelda go way back. You've been friends since you were kids? Big deal. It doesn't change the fact that you go through life with your head floating in the clouds. Would you wake up, straighten up, and grow a backbone already?"
Link realized that Groose was jealous of his friendship with Zelda, and he wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to actually punch him, laugh at how stupid he was being, or groan now that he knew the whole reason he and his gang hated on him so much was for something so petty. Link contented himself by just blinking at Groose instead.
"Dopes like you are dragging our honored Academy through the mud," Groose continued to rant. Link blinked more. Okay he didn't like him because he was lazy too? The things he was learning about Groose today...
"And just who might you be talking about, Groose?" came Zelda's accusing voice from behind him. Link turned in surprise to see Zelda standing there, glaring daggers at Groose with her hands on her hips.
"Oh..." Groose said with a smile. "Zelda. Hey. Nah, it's...uh..."
Zelda strode right over to Groose, and Link just stepped out the way, knowing it was far better to be out of the way of that fuse when the bomb went off. She however apparently satisfied with just that, and shoved him behind her as if to defend him. She walked over, and even though she and Link were both several feet shorter than Groose, she pointed and accusing finger right into his face and glared at him.
"Don't even try it, Groose," she said. "You're picking on Link again, aren't you? He's a student at the Academy, like all of us. Why do you insist on bullying him around so much."
"Yeah..." Groose said with a surprised face. "I suppose..."
"Suppose?" Zelda demanded. "Suppose what?"
His face morphed suddenly into the stupid grin of a lovesick Remlit. Zelda's eyebrows shot up and both she and Link marveled at the strange new look they were seeing on his face. They'd never really seen Groose have any other look than that stupid smile or a cocky grin at Link.
"I..." Groose said in a lovesick stupor. "suppose...you...Er...Pfft! Forget it. I wasn't supposing anything okay?"
"Huh?" Link and Zelda both managed as Groose walked away.
"Okay," Groose called back, waving as he and his two henchmen chuckled darkly. "we're outta here boys. Later, Link! Hope you find your bird, or you're gonna have to sit out today's race! That could be a real setback towards Knighthood, so find that bird or get used to the taste of failure! It's your special flavor."
They leaped back off with whistles and their Loftwings came running. Within seconds they were all speeding away to practice some more flying around Skyloft. Link sighed and Zelda shook her head as she looked after them.
"I hate to say it," she said. "but I'm beginning to suspect those blockheads had something to do with you Loftwing's disappearance."
"Oh they did," Link sighed. "I heard them talking. I almost punched Groose in the face."
"Good thing you didn't," Zelda reminded him. "Or else you'd never be able to enter the race again. Still, he was acting oddly, wasn't he?"
"He was," Link said. "The way he looked at you and..."
"And?"
Link thought about it a minute. Groose had seemed almost upset that he had been acting so laid back here lately. Maybe Groose did pick on him, and maybe he did make his life miserable, but there was something else in the way he said it...maybe he'd hidden his bird to make Link not be so lazy? Maybe he'd given him those hints on purpose somehow? Groose had never really seemed all that bright, and it seemed largely out of character. But something about this made Link think that maybe Groose was trying to help him in his own way. Link just shook his head. What were the odds of that right? He sighed again.
"Nothing," he said. "I really didn't need this setback. I need to find Balaen."
"Well they're not helping us," Zelda shrugged, letting him off. "So we'd better start searching."
"We?"
"Yes we," Zelda laughed. "I'll fly around Skyloft and see if I can spot any sign of your bird. Father said he'd talk to Instructor Horwell about delaying the start of the Wing Ceremony. So don't worry. We'll find your bird in time."
"Thanks Zelda," Link said, smiling. He did have to admit that he felt better now.
Zelda smiled in return then ran to the edge of the pier. With a whistle she leaped off and flew away. Link felt isolated and tied down suddenly here on the ground, but he knew he didn't have much time. However for the first time he looked up at the sky. Those dark clouds had gone no where, and once again he felt an odd foreboding when he saw them. He turned away from the pier and made his way through town, towards the Academy again.
As he went towards the front door, hoping to find Fledge or Pipit, he heard voices around the side where the training hall for swords was. Link paused, wondering who it could be, then decided to swing around and find out. As he came around the corner and saw the front doors to the armory he saw both Fledge and Pipit standing there. Fledge looked like he either wanted to start crying to fall into a puddle on the ground. When he saw Link coming it appeared to get worse.
He ran up to the two, and Pipit turned to Link. Unsure what was going on, Link paused and looked between his two friends. But before he could wonder much longer, Pipit shook his head and sighed, motioning towards Fledge over his shoulder, who looked ready to jump off the edge of the Skyloft and not call his Loftwing.
"Link," Pipit said. "Perfect Timing. I'd heard your Loftwing had gone missing, so I joined in the search. But when I asked Fledge what he knew, he started acting weird."
"I'm so sorry Link," Fledge blurted out. "I really wanted to tell you...but if Groose found out I told you..."
"Told me that he took Balaen?" Link sighed.
"Y-You knew?" Fledge asked, not sure if he wanted to be happy or look more patronized.
"I heard them talking," Link said with a shrug. No one had to ask who.
"It sounds like Groose forced him to keep quite about it," Pipit explained. Then he turned to Fledge. "Go on! Tell him the truth."
"Just a little while ago," Fledge said as he stared at his feet. "when I was cleaning the dining hall, Groose and his buddies came in. They didn't notice I was there and started talking about their plan to hide your Loftwing. I wanted to warn you Link, but just as I started to sneak away...Groose and his gang grabbed me...they said if I told you, they'd make sure I'd never be able to ride a bird ever again!"
Fledge look horrified at the thought and shuddered. Link sighed, not sure if he really would punch Groose in the face or not, or if he was supposed to find a way to be mad at Fledge. No, he knew he could never be mad a Fledge. He just gave him a kind of disappointed smile.
"It's okay Fledge," Link soothed as best he could. "I'm not mad at you."
"R-Really?" the timid boy asked, glancing up at him hopefully.
"Of course not," Link replied. Fledge sniffed.
"You're a good friend..." he mumbled.
"From what I got out of Fledge earlier," Pipit continued. "I heard they were planning to hide Balaen near a waterfall. Well near a waterfall would mean...over near the little pond right? The one where the Naming Ceremony happens? I'm pretty sure that's your best bet."
"Sorry I'm such a coward," Fledge added quietly. Link patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about it," he said.
Fledge just kind of nodded as Link turned and made his way through the passages and streets of the tiny world that was the Skyloft to the familiar waterfall. The pond sparkled brilliantly in the light, but as he looked over, he saw no way across without jumping in and swimming. He wasn't exactly wanting to get wet, and besides, he was sure there was no where to hide a Loftwing near that small Waterfall. He turned instead to the many small boulders that had long been worn down into a flat surface. It was the only sort of bridge over part of the pond.
Link leaped onto the first one, testing it with his foot. Sometimes it was slippery and dangerous, but right now they seemed pretty dry. Without wasting a beat he leaped across the other ones, which grew steadily higher until he reached the other side. And if he fell in he might be swept off the waterfall on this side of the pond. Still dry, he walked along the edge of the pond, looking towards the waterfall. However as he reached the far wall, he felt a familiar jolt. He turned instantly towards a small cave which was blocked by some young trees.
He walked over in front of it and peered into the depths of the cave. This cave cut all the way through to the other side of the rock face, and the other side of the waterfall. These trees had been planted here a few years ago because the kids kept wandering into it, where monsters were. However now that those kids all had Loftwings and could generally fly to the other side if they really wanted to go around there was no need for the trees. The younger kids had been warned not to go in, and Link was one of those kids. But he'd been drawn here for another reason.
He could sense Balaen on the other side of the rock face, somewhere along near the waterfall. Balaen wasn't close enough for Link to have sensed on the other side of the Goddess Statue, but definitely close enough to hear that whistle. He could feel the worry and fear in Balaen's mind, enough so that he doubted the Loftwing would even notice his presence until he was standing in front of him. Link couldn't help but sigh a little now that he knew where Balaen was now, though he was worried. He didn't want him to hurt himself worrying like that.
But Link needed to go in. He had to go get his friend. If he could have flown it wouldn't have taken long, but he didn't want to ask anyone to just borrow their Loftwing. One, that was dangerous and even with as good as Link seemed to be with the birds, they might not let him fly them. Loftwings only generally listened to the commands of one single rider. If that rider died they would never get another. If that Loftwing died a rider would never have another. They were a pair, and there was no replacing the lifelong friendship the two formed.
Link needed a sword to go through there however and get past the monsters unharmed, and that meant that he needed to go back to the Sparring Hall that was part of the Academy. Pipit and Fledge had been in front of it, and hopefully if they were still there he could tell them what he knew. Maybe they could go around and calm Balaen by letting him know that he was coming to get him and not falling to his death somewhere in the open air.
He made his way quickly back across the bridge and ran the shortest distance he could back towards the Academy, jumping over familiar ledges and pulling up others, until finally, a little more dusty than before, he managed to make it to the main road. Link kept running as hard as he could until he made it back, breathing heavily and looking around for any sign of his two friends.
They weren't here. Maybe Pipit was still looking for Balaen for Link, or maybe he had dragged Fledge with him to go confront Groose. If it was the second one, then he knew Fledge would be terrified but Pipit would be hearing nothing about staying behind. Link hoped they wouldn't get too in over their heads, but against those idiots it probably wasn't possible.
Link knew though that he didn't have much time. He turned and as quickly as he could hurried into the Sparring Hall, pulling open the heavy wooden doors and the going inside the dimly lit hall. Link had been learning to use the sword here for years, as well as a few other weapons when they could. He was okay with a bow, though they weren't really practical weapons up here and so he was out of presence. However Link was the number one student in his grade when using weapons was concerned. Link quickly ran across the room.
The usual instructor, Knight Commander Eagus who was a huge and well muscled man with dark brown hair he usually kept covered and dark brown eyes was standing there. His eyes lit up and he smiled as he saw Link rushing to him. It was odd to see anyone in here for practice during Ceremony days, seeing how they were days off from the Academy and many students and residents of Skyloft, Knights included, would soon be out to watch the Ceremony. However Eagus's smile fell as he saw the serious look on Link's face.
"What's the matter Link?" he asked. "I can see you're not here for practicing. What's got you in such a rush?"
"Someone took Balaen," Link replied. "and hid him behind the waterfall. I need to go through the cave to get him."
"Through the cave?" Eagus gasped. "That's dangerous Link."
"I know," Link sighed. "I know. But I've got to. He's...well he probably heard me call for him earlier but couldn't come catch me. Zelda and Peleca had to."
"So you're saying he's probably panicking," Eagus said knowingly. "wondering if anyone caught you. I see. That's why you're so desperate to go through that cave. But monsters live in there Link. I can't just let you walk through it."
"That's why I came here sir," Link said. "Can I borrow a sword?"
"A sword?" Eagus asked in surprise. "Boy only Knights are allowed to carry swords. I can't have young ones running around scaring people because they think it's fun."
"I just need it to go through the cave," Link nearly begged. "I'll bring it right back when I'm done, or if not then after the Wing Ceremony."
Eagus paused and looked the boy over, no doubt wondering if he should let the boy borrow a sword. The entire Skyloft knew that Link was good for his word, and he was never one to say something and not mean it. Besides, Link was the best in his grade and was amazing with a sword. Eagus knew that well, seeing how he'd been the one training the boy for years. Still frowning, Eagus sighed as he looked up at the boy.
"I'll let you borrow a practice sword," Eagus said. "But you're going to have to bring it back when you're done with it. Be careful Link."
"Thank you," Link said, not able to keep the relief off his face. "I will be."
"It's in the chest in the back," Eagus said, pointing to the back room with his thumb.
Link didn't waste any time and ran straight back into the back room. He dodged around the various tools and weapons in the back until he reached the blue chest in the back of the room. Upon reaching it, he reached out and opened the unlocked lid, pulling out the sword. It was a simple one, not too sharp but certainly not dull. It had a strap that attached it to his back, like every other sword of the Skyloft, and it sat it a simple metal sheathe. Generally you'd never see it outside of here, and most swords in Skyloft weren't much more fancy than this. But Link wasn't complaining.
Link strapped the small sword on, taking it out to examine it. It was oddly heavy in his hand, and the practice swords always had been. It just wasn't the right length or shape for him. It was a shorter and wider blade, made to hack through dummies instead of enemies. But against the small monsters that lived inside the cave it would be the difference between coming out with his eyes still in his skull or maybe even dying because of the monsters all attacking. He'd rather have his eyes if he could, so this sword would do.
Link slid it back into the sheathe and then turned, running straight out of the Sparring Hall with it on his back. He quickly retraced his steps, running back to the waterfall. Of course, running through town with a sword on his back made several townspeople look up in surprise to see him running by with it, but they didn't seem to say anything. If it had been a troublemaker like Groose they would have instantly gone to Eagus to demand why he had let him have a sword. However Link was a good boy and never did anything wrong. Link ran to the cave unhindered.
Link ran right up to those trees and swung the sword hard, slicing the weak wood in half. Then before anyone noticed and tried to stop him he leaped over what was left and ran right inside. The light dimmed instantly before his eyes as he made his way into the cave. It was dark, though precious stones and discarded rupees seemed to sit everywhere within sight. If Link had cared about money he might have tried to get them, but right now he knew he had to get to his friend. He could feel Balaen's fear growing stronger as he walked farther. It wouldn't be long before he reached the other side and could be reunited with his old friend, but for now he had to concentrate on getting through this cave. There would be time for that.
Wind could be heard howling through the dark caves, as well as the water falling down into pools throughout them. An eerie silence seemed to fill the air as he made his way through the caves. But he wasn't alone for long. Keez, large bat like creatures, were waiting at the top of the cave and dangling there for him. As soon as they saw him the five of them swarmed him. He gripped his sword and spun quickly, taking out most of them. But he had to hack and slash at the remaining two before they could attack again.
With them out of the way he continued into the caves. He leaped down a ledge and came to a cliff where the waterfall fell inside the caves. A railing had been built to keep people from falling in. But what got his attention was the green blob of jelly that popped up out of the ground. It lunged instantly for his leg, but he sliced through it with the sword. He took a minute to wipe it off on the rock wall and get the disgusting goo off before continuing again.
He could see why people didn't go down here. Though Keez and those blobs weren't exactly very dangerous, in large numbers they could certainly kill a person, and Link was small enough that it wouldn't take that many of them to do so. This place was also dark and damp, the perfect breeding ground for them. If Link hadn't had a sword he probably would have been in a lot of trouble by now. He paused and leaped down a ledge when he noticed the path turned ahead. He hoped he'd taken a short cut.
He now had to get a running start to get up a rather large incline he couldn't have just walked up. At the top he found water pooling on the ground as well as several Keez and a Chu waiting for him. He sliced the Chu, getting bit by one of the Keez as he did so. But he quickly swiped and cut the Keez down before they could bite him again. Link winced and reached back, laying his hand against the cut. It was small, but it was bleeding quite a bit. It definitely wasn't anything to worry about at the moment, but it did hurt.
He continued a few feet before more Keez, smelling the blood, dive bombed him. Not really in the mood to get bitten again, Link quickly cut them down, as well as several Chu's that got in his way. One managed to clamp its mouth around his ankle, which hurt though he wasn't entirely sure how a blob of jelly could hurt you. He cut it off quickly though and leaped up to pull himself up another ledge, where yet more Keez were stirring because of the blood.
He could see the exit though, and he wasn't going to stop here. He quickly cut them down, losing track of how many attacked him in the cave. He was only vaguely aware that they were all dead when there weren't anymore trying to bite him. Link quickly dashed for the exit before he could find anymore monsters in the cave.
Outside the sun was a lot brighter than he remembered, and he had to shield his eyes. Knowing the monsters hated the sun more than he did, he sat down and examined his ankle. It didn't seem too bad. The Chu hadn't gotten a hold on it long. It was sore, and it would probably bruise, but it certainly wasn't anything to really worry about. He then checked the bite mark again. It was also sore, but the bleeding would stop soon enough.
Satisfied that he had escaped the monsters at least fairly unharmed, he leaped up and ran to one of the many bird statues around the Skyloft and sent a quick prayer to the goddess, thanking her for helping him to find her bird and for helping him to not be too injured to help his friend. That done, he turned to run down the only path to where he knew his friend would be hidden. However as he began to do so, a cheerful voice called from beside him.
"Hey," Zelda called. "Link!"
"Zelda," Link called, giving her a smile as she landed on Peleca and leaped off to run to him.
His smile soon became a sigh as she ran over and saw the mark on his neck. She once again began fussing over him, and she didn't miss that his boot looked a little more roughed up than it had previously. She crossed her arms as she glared at him.
"What's this?" she asked.
"I had to go through the cave to get to the other side," Link pointed out.
"You're hurt," she cried. He laughed a little nervously.
"Yeah," he said. "But not bad. A Keez managed to bite me and one of the Chu grabbed my leg. But it's nothing that I can't handle." He touched the bite again and held up his hand. "See look, the bleeding's already stopped."
"Fine," she sighed, relenting. She knew he'd only done it because he was worried about Balaen. She loved Peleca, but she wondered how much more he worried because he knew what Balaen was thinking. "Well I'd hoped I'd find you here anyway, though I'd hoped not hurt. Pipit told me you were looking around the waterfall, so I thought I'd help. I haven't seen him, but have you seen any sign of him?"
"I can sense him up ahead here," Link told her. "He's really freaking out right now."
"Groose and his gang always hang around up here," Zelda said. "I should have thought to look there first. Well come on."
Before they could go onwards though, Zelda seemed to pause and look towards the open air, out over the clouds. Link paused as well and shook his head because he was almost certain he heard something...he wasn't sure what it was, but it made his scalp prickle.
"Huh...?" Zelda asked aloud, staring out at the clouds. "Who...who's that? Where are you? Who's calling for me?"
"Zelda?" Link asked.
"Oh," she said, jumping a little. "Sorry. I got distracted. It's just that...well it sounds like someone keeps calling me. I've been hearing the voice all day...I probably sound crazy."
"If it makes you feel better," Link said with a smile. "I've been having really weird dreams again, ones I don't understand. And there's someone there...someone I don't know...who keeps telling me about my destiny or something..."
"That is weird..." Zelda said. But then she seemed to shake her head and smile. "Anyway, we don't have time for this. Let's go get Balaen."
Link could tell that there was something else she wanted to say, something else she supsected. But he knew that she was just trying to help him out right now. They ran forward towards the place where Groose and his gang liked to hang out, passing yet another waterfall that fell off the back of the Skyloft. They ran down the sloping path and turned the corner. Then they heard the loud screeching of a panicking Balaen.
Link ran instantly to the front of the makeshift pen of boards and rope, Zelda close behind. Link's ankle smarted a little, but he ignored it as he waved his hands in front of Balaen's face to get the bird's attention. Balaen finally seemed to notice him as Link shushed him gently and promised him that he wasn't that badly hurt and was just fine. Balaen's panicked cries became coos and longing shrieks as he tapped at the front of the pen.
Link pulled out the sword and slashed the first ropes off, dropping one of the boards to the ground. Balaen continued to make noise but allowed Link to work and cut away at the pen holding him in. It was a genius design, one that made sure that it was easy to take down, but not to get out of. Ropes tied the ends of the boards together and anchored them against the struts that stuck out of the wall for some forgotten purpose. Link wasn't sure if he wanted to be more mad or marvel at how someone as seeming stupid as Groose had pulled this off.
Link continued to work his way around, cutting the ropes that held the boards up one by one. It took several slashes on several of them, and sometimes he missed the small space completely and smacked the rock instead, making the metal ring. But soon he'd cut away all four ropes, leaving the boards on the ground in front of him.
Balaen stepped out carefully over the boards as Link slid the sword back into the sheathe. The bird stretched and happily shrieked as he was finally free. But in an instant Link felt the bird's mind shift to sheer relief and apologies as he turned to Link. Balaen shoved his head right into Link's chest, and Link smiled as he assured the bird silently that he didn't blame him and that he was perfectly fine. They stood there for a while like that as Zelda watched with a smile.
Balaen quickly flapped his wings then, making both Zelda and Link have to step back quickly as he took to the air and began flying in circles above them. Link smiled and ran towards the edge of the pier, no longer afraid of the open air again as he watched Balaen and felt his joy and being free and flying once again. Balaen though seemed to be promising to make it up to Link as he did so, and Zelda smiled as she stepped up beside Link.
"We really should hurry," she laughed as she pointed out. "You definitely need to fly to the Ceremony. I know they delayed it, but it's going to start soon. But..."
"But?" Link asked. Zelda stared down at the clouds below.
"Have you ever wondered what's beyond the clouds?" she asked. Link blinked in surprise. Where had this come from? "Some say it's an empty barren place, or that there's nothing at all. But I just get the feeling they're wrong. I mean, some of father's old tales talk about something called the surface, a place far bigger than the Skyloft. It's just that...no one's been down there to see it...not without... OH! Link I'm sorry!"
"No," Link sighed as he looked down. He'd used to be scared of what was below the clouds, of falling. But now that she mentioned it...he did wonder. "It's fine." Silently she stared at him.
"Someday I'd like to see what was down there myself," she sighed.
"Maybe we will Zelda," Link said with a small smile.
Zelda gave a small smile in return, then leaped off the pier, whistling. A flash of purple feathers went by. Link soon followed, giving a loud earsplitting whistle. A familiar shreik told him that Balaen was just behind him.
So at points I obviously wasn't sure how I was really going to change the dialogue, and I took some creative liberties. However I'm ready to move on to the next chapter, and I hope you guys are enjoying as much as I am.