Chapter 2: An Impulsive Decision

Fledge stood out waiting outside Link's dorm room. Word has it that Link is going out to look for Zelda, alone. Not only that, a green pillar of light appeared just south of Skyloft. Fledge wondered if that and Zelda's disappearance were connected.

The door opened and out came Link, fully dressed in his knight uniform. It is much similar to Pipit's uniform, only it's green like Karane's but darker.

"Link!" Fledge shouted towards Link.

"Oh, hey Fledge. How are you?" Link greeted.

"I'm doing alright. I'm glad to see you're okay! That green uniform looks so...adventurous! You sure look like a knight now. The headmaster said that you're heading out to look for Zelda, right?" Link nodded. "You're really something else. I...Don't think I can imagine doing what you're about to do."

"Only if you believe that Fledge. Don't you remember what I always told you whenever you consider quitting knight training? The more you convince yourself you can't do it..."

"I won't be able to do it, thus completing a self-fulfilled prophecy," Fledge added.

"But the more convinced you can do it, you will be able to do it," Link finished with a smile.

"Good old Link. Always making me feel better no matter what. I don't know what I did to deserve you as a friend...Anyways, I wanted to give you something. I put a lot of work into making this! You should take it with you." Fledge handed Link a pouch. "It's an Adventure Pouch. It's for...adventures. You can fit all sorts of things in it you need for your journey. You can buy all sorts of stuff at the Bazaar that you can put into that pouch. You should go look! You could buy some potions and a shield. They fit in the pouch, and they might come in handy on your adventure."

Link took the pouch, examined it for a bit before clipping it on his side.

"Link...I just know that you'll find Zelda for us."

"Thanks, Fledge. I appreciate this."

"Also...about yesterday, I'm…" Fledge felt the gentle weight of Link's hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. That's in the past now."

"...Good luck Link. Be Careful."

"I will. You stay out of trouble."

The green knight made his way down the hall. Fledge just stood in his spot watching his friend until he was out of sight.

It had barely been an hour since Link left to look for Zelda. Fledge sat at one of the tables in the knight academy Dinning Hall. Henya had left a while ago, so it was just him. A cup of tea that he had made sat in front of him but the student was not all that interested in drinking it. The past twenty-four hours played through his mind. Everyone was taking Zelda's absence in different ways.

Groose apparently is taking it very hard. According to students he's been sulking in his bedroom, uttering how it was Link's fault, which Fledge knew was absolutely false. Cawlin had been by his side, but Strich was strangely nowhere to be found. It seems Fledge won't have to worry about them picking on him for a while.

Fledge was worried about Link. Now there was no way Fledge doubted Link's abilities. He had seen Link in action with a sword. He was more than likely capable of handling himself. Yet, there was part of his head that nagging him that he should do something to help him somehow.

"Are you doing alright?" Fledge glances up to see Karane standing across the table.

"I think so. Do you want some tea?"

Karane nods her head. She sat down at the table as Fledge poured the tea from the kettle into a small cup.

"It's good," she commented after taking a sip.

"Thank you. Henya let me make it."

Karane hummed in response. Despite her professional posture, Fledge can see the expression on her face says otherwise.

"You're worried?"

"Huh?"

"About Zelda?"

"Oh, Yeah…" Karane responded gloomily. Rightfully so. Out of all the female students Karane was the closest with Zelda. They're practically sisters.

"I'm worried about her too," Fledge added.

"Do you think she's alive out there?"

"I'm sure she is. I haven't seen Tetra flying around so her bird may be with her. Even if her Loftwing isn't with her, Zelda is capable of handling herself. Not to mention, Link is out there looking for her and he's a very good fighter. I know they'll be fine."

"I know that Fledge, but...It doesn't feel right just sitting here while one friend is Hylia knows where, while the other is searching for her in an unknown world below the clouds. Link shouldn't have to take upon this by himself. I don't know why the staff are letting him do it alone. I know they're close, but Zelda is my friend too. We could be helping him. I could be helping him find her!"

Fledge didn't say anything as Karane finished her rant. He can understand her feelings. All his life he wished he could help Link and Zelda. They were always there for him whenever he needed them, whether it's Link defending him from Groose, or seeking advice from Zelda. But Karane has a good point. Zelda is missing and Link had set out to find her, alone. Then, escaping from the deep part of his mind, an idea suddenly popped into his head.

"If you're very worried then, why don't you go after him?"

"What?" Karane stared at Fledge.

"You...you could go after him. The green light that appeared, there's no doubt that's where he went. You can pick up his trail from there, and you can help him find Zelda. If anyone is qualified to do it, it's you."

"I would do it…" Karane placed her hand under her chin. "But the Headmaster told everyone not to go near the light column so no one will be willing to go over there. It'd be too dangerous to go alone, anyways. I would need at least one more pair of eyes watching my back in a place we don't know. I don't know how & why Link is doing it on his own."

That is also true. Headmaster Gaepora had instructed all students and staff not to speak about Zelda's absence outside the academy walls, and to tell the citizens not to go near the light. And then another idea came into Fledge's head. The idea was so obscure that it would contradict what he said to Link earlier. But that same voice that made him say his impulsive suggestion to Karane was now telling him to make that right decision and to make it now.

"I can come with you!" He decided on the spot.

Karane stared at him like he grew an extra head. "You're not serious, are you?"

"I know I'm not top material, but Link & Zelda are my friends as well. I would hate the thought of something bad happening to them. So yeah, I am serious."

"You're dead set on this huh?" Karane commented with a small smile. "Then with your help, we'll go out there to help Link find Zelda!"

"I don't think it's a good idea." The pair looked to see Pipit leaning against the entry to the Dinning Hall with his arms crossed.

"Pipit! How much did you hear?" Fledge asks.

"Most of it." Pipit made his way to the table and sat down. "Guys, I get you're worried about Zelda but I'm sure Link will find her. He's a resourceful guy. Besides, Headmaster Gaepora said this is something Link should do himself."

"I think we're pretty much qualified to help him," Karane brought up.

"Even so, we don't know anything about The Surface."

"Neither does Link nor Zelda, yet they're down there alone. Who knows what could happen to them down there. I mean if it were me stuck down there, wouldn't you look for me?"

"...Of course I would, because you're my friend," Pipit said with a small flush before hunching forward with his arms crossed, a habit of his.

"And we're supposed to help people, including our friends, no matter how little we know about the danger."

"Yeah. Isn't that what we were taught to do as knights?" Fledge brought up.

Pipit looked at his friends. A breath escaped from his mouth. "You guys are determined to do this? In that case, let me come with you."

"Seriously?" Fledge questioned.

"As you said, we're knights and we should help people, Link & Zelda included. Also, it wouldn't feel right if I stayed here while you both are out there. I'll help out in any way I can."

"Thank you, Pipit. You're amazing, you know that?" Karane hugged him.

"What are friends for," Pipit flushed with red, brighter this time. It went away by the time Karane removed herself from him.

"So...what's the plan?" Fledge wondered.

"For starters, we're gonna need supplies and red potions. We don't know what we'll be up against," Pipit turned his head towards Fledge. "And you're gonna need some improvements, no offense."

"None taken," Fledge noted unfazed.

"So here's what we're gonna do. Karane, you go to the Bazaar and buy us supplies. Food, potions, and try to get a shield for Fledge if you could."

"Not a problem. What about you guys?"

"I'll help Fledge get a sword and some sort of protection for him. We'll meet you in the plaza in an hour."

"We should probably bring something that'll help us land safely. It looks like a pretty long drop." Karane suggested.

"Good idea. I have my sailcloth from last year's Wing Ceremony that I could use. You could use yours as well. What about you, Fledge?"

"I think my scarf here should help. It is pretty large after all." Fledge fiddled with the red gem that helped keep his blue scarf secure around his shoulders. "But wait, what if someone gets suspicious about what we're doing?"

"We can say me and Pipit are helping you with knight training," Karane proposed.

"I guess that would be believable, given that I'm not a senior knight like you guys."

"Then, let's do this thing," Pipit declared.

Karane sat at one of the benches around the plaza. She managed to get what she and the guys need for their little...training retreat. She was also prepped with her sword & shield on her back. Skyloft citizens walked by and gave her odd stares due to the supplies gear but none of them pressed the subject much to her relief. The guys were a little over an hour late so she hoped everything was going okay. All she could do to pass the time was to take in the scenery.

Out on the horizon, she could see the green light pillar piercing through the clouds. Just to think somewhere below there her friends are there. She can't help but wonder what the world below would be like. Was it anything like the stories she heard growing up? Nothing but rocks, a hideous wasteland, or something else entirely? She does remember Zelda talking about it on occasion. It was a subject that has fascinated her since they were children. Soon, Karane was going to see it with her own eyes.

"Hi, Karane!" A five-year-old girl dressed in red greeted the redhead.

"Hi Kukiel. What are you doing?"

"I'm going to visit my special friend! What are you doing with all that stuff?"

"It's...knight business. Very important knight business."

"Like a secret mission?"

"Something like that…"

"Neat! What kind of secret mission?"

"Well...If I told you it wouldn't be secret, would it?"

"Oh I see! I'll go see my friend then. Bye-bye!"

The little girl ran off. Karane gave a sigh of relief that the little girl didn't press on. Minutes after that conversation she saw Pipit & Fledge arriving, both equipped with their swords, and Pipit with his shield. There was also evidence of Fledge wearing chainmail under his shirt.

"What took you guys?" Karane asks the pair.

"We had to wait for Eagus to leave the sparring hall so that we could… 'borrow' a sword and chainmail for Fledge," Pipit explained.

"I hope he won't be upset," Fledge commented.

"I also had to rummage through my house to find my sailcloth. Took me some time because my mother would rather let the dust fly all over my face rather than clean it."

"Was she curious about why?" Karane wondered.

"Thankfully, not too much. I told her I was helping Fledge and she seemed to bought it."

"Good. I got the stuff." Karane handed them pouches, courtesy of Fledge, filled with the supplies. "I got three red potions for each of us, and some food. I also got waterskins filled with water. I also got you a shield for you, Fledge."

Fledge took the wooden shield from Karane and equipped it on his back. "It's a little heavy, but I'll get used to it."

"Let's get going."

The trio walked over to the jumping dock at the plaza. All three stood still as they gaze towards the horizon. Each of them is nervous in various ways.

"You nervous?" Fledge heard Karane's voice.

"Yeah. Just not sure what to expect."

"I'm sure we'll be fine," Pipit assured with his upbeat attitude. "Well jump down, join up with with Link, and help him find Zelda. How hard can it be?"

Pipit was the first to run towards the end of the dock, quickly by Karane then Fledge. One by one Pipit, Karane, and Fledge jumped off. With each giving a loud whistle, each of their respective Loftwing joined them. A grass-green one named Shiro for Pipit. A sky-blue one named Ilia for Karane. And finally, a dark-red one named Yunobo for Fledge.

All three friends flew to the green column of light. Once close enough, they stopped their Loftwings. They could see a gap in the clouds showing the ground below. It all appears to be lots of green seen below. All three glanced at each other, waiting to see if one of them would fly back. No one did.

"We're actually doing this, eh?" Pipit clarified.

"We most definitely are," Karane confirmed.

"No turning back," Fledge thought.

They glided their Loftwings close to the gap. Once they were close they jumped. The wind pressed hard against their skin as their bodies grew closer to the ground below. Below the cloud barrier, they got a better look at The Surface. The land was covered with many, many trees, one of which was as big as The Goddess Statue in Skyloft.

Using their sailcloths/scarves, they landed safely in an area next to the woods. Several feet away from their landing spot lay a large stone structure. Next to them look like a spiral pit. They all looked around, taking in this new environment.

"I never imaged The Surface to be this...green! Look at all these trees!" Karane commented utterly amazed.

"Guys...look!" Fledge pointed towards something in front of them. Hopping around were very tiny birds that came in various colors.

"Woah..." Pipit exclaimed.

"Those are the smallest birds I've ever seen!" Fledge remarked.

"They're so...pretty. Especially that blue one," Karane added.

For the next several moments, everyone took in the sights. All the lives they've been told many legends about The Surface. There were no words in their vocabulary to describe the sheer wonder. This didn't last as Pipit soon snapped out of it.

"I know there's probably a lot to see, but we should focus on finding Link & Zelda."

"Oh, right!" Karane glanced over to the large stone temple up ahead. "Maybe we can find some clues over there."

The trio went down the path that led to the temple. Standing in front of it they could see evidence of age on the structure. It was very clear that this temple has been here for a very long time. Fledge went to the ledge that oversaw the spiral pit. There were small gusts of wind emerging in several spots of the spiral path but that was not the most unusual thing he saw. Down at the center of it lay a small stone column surrounded by some symbols.

"What do you think that is?" Fledge asked as Pipit walked next to him.

"Beats me. An odd thing to put in there."

Karane stood on the other side of Fledge to also get a look at the stone column at the bottom. Suddenly, she got a sudden shiver, goosebumps crawling upon her body.

"Are you okay?" Pipit looks with concern in his eyes.

"I...I felt this sudden dread in my chest. I don't know why."

Pipit brought his eyes back to the column. Suddenly he got a sudden chill on his body as his chest filled with dread. Fledge felt it as well.

"I feel it now. What is this place?" Pipit wondered as he glances his head around.

"Maybe we'll feel better in there." Fledge gestured to the temple, also wanting to get away from the pit.

Taking the student's advice, they all decided to go inside. Pushing on the heavy stone doors they entered the building.

The inside was massive. Large stone pillars were keeping it up. The left side had a small open space with a patch of dirt. The right side had a small door. A section of the roof was missing, letting in a stray light that landed on a set of large stairs.

Sitting under the light sat a woman that appeared to be older than even Henya. A long golden braid wrapped around her head, with the end of it dangling on the side of her head wrapped in a disc. She wore a black dress with blue on the top and yellow on the bottom. On top of that, she wore a large red hood. She also wore a necklace with blue stones and wore a purple glass bracelet on her right wrist. There was also a tattoo of a tear on her left cheek.

"Ah...Visitors from the clouds above. I welcome you all. May I be kind enough to ask for your names?" The old woman greeted them.

Pipit stepped forward. "I'm Pipit. This is Karane and Fledge."

"Ah yes. Very good."

"Can you tell us who you are, and where we are?"

"I shall. You may refer to me as The Old One. This place here is known as The Sealed Grounds. This temple is also known as The Sealed Temple, a place built by the Goddess an eternity ago. If I may ask, what brings you all here to a place like this?"

"We're looking for some friends of ours. Have you seen-"

"The Spirit Maiden you know as Zelda, and The Goddesses Chosen Hero you know as Link."

"You know them?"

"Indeed. Their arrival was predestined many, many years ago. Their presence are signs that the gears of fate had begun to turn.

"Fate of what?" Karane asks.

"The fate of the very world you live in. They are part of a great destiny that will forever change the future of this world. The Spirit Maiden had already set off on her own to discover her destiny before The Chosen Hero arrived here. The Chosen Hero left after her to uncover his destiny as well."

"Okay. Just tell us where they went and we'll catch up to them," Pipit requested.

"I understand your need to be united with them, but your paths are not aligned with theirs. Not to mention it would be very dangerous."

"Please. They're our friends. We just want to make sure they're okay," Fledge pleaded.

The Old One looked at Fledge. An amusing chuckle escaped from her as a smile grew across her lips.

"Very well then. Since you are determined, I will tell you all. Your friends have set out for Faron Woods. It is just right outside that door on the side. Before you set out for them listen closely." The trio put their attention towards her the same as they do in class back at the Knight Academy. "As I mentioned, this journey will be dangerous. You'll experience things that you never experienced before. You'll face dangers you never imagined. And you will all be tested in ways you have never had. Do you think you all can handle this?"

One by one, the students nodded their heads.

"Please take this." The Old One pulled a large folded paper. "This is a magical map. Every new location you go to it will be added to your map. I kept it on the event The Hero lost his map but it looks like you all need it now."

Pipit took the map from The Old One. The map shows only two locations, Skyloft Island and The Sealed Grounds. There was plenty of space, most likely reserved for any location they could visit around those areas.

"Thank you," Pipit said to her.

"I wish you all safe travels. Take care, all of you."

"Thank you again!" Fledge repeated back.

The Old One remained in her spot as the others began to leave. As she walked down the door, Karane took notice of the wall behind The Old One. There was a gap behind her that revealed some sort of amber crystal. For a brief moment, she swore she saw a figure inside. The Old One seems to notice her curiosity.

"Something catching your attention?"

"What's in that room behind you?"

"It is nothing to worry about, I assure you."

Karane wasn't sure what to make of it, but The Old One sounded sincere enough. Pushing the thought aside, she joined up with the guys as they exited through the side of the temple. Once completely alone, The Old One gave a gentle smile.

"And so it finally begins…"

And here we have the prelude to this story. It came to me after I question on Tumblr if there was a story where Link's friend join him on his adventure. After getting no answers I finally went "Fine I'll do it myself."

Inspiration came after reading several fics with Zelda joining Link on his adventures, and several Breath of the Wild based fics with the Champions surviving and aiding Link. So I figure why not do this concept and give some love to Pipit, Karane, and Fledge since I really like those characters. I also hope you like the names I gave for their Loftwings. I'll be referring the old woman as The Old One since that's what she is know as in Skyward Sword HD.

I already had started the third chapter. I just need to finish it up, but I hope you guys enjoy what I brought so far.

Favs, Follows, and Reviews are all appreciated!