"Normal Text": Reactions

"Italic Text": Astra Stories

'Thoughts'

*I do not own The Legend of Zelda. All rights go to Nintendo*

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The mood in the room was thick with tension after the few scenes they had seen. Mipha looked around and saw the worry and apprehension in everyone's eyes. She couldn't believe how quickly things had gone wrong for Sky and Sun. One moment they were enjoying a flight together and the next Sun had been ripped away and with how Astra was acting it seemed things wouldn't be much better for Sky and himself.

She wondered if that's how it would be for them. One moment all would be calm and the next the Calamity would rise without warning. It truly scared her just as it had when she was asked to be Ruta's pilot but as she turned her head towards her childhood best friend she resolved herself. She may have thought she wasn't ready for the fight to come but for him she would be.

Mipha then thought about how Sky and Sun interacted. She could tell that there was more than friendship between the two even if neither had acknowledged it. She couldn't help but wonder what would happen that made Sky choose Lady Hylia over Sun.

"When your Loftwing carried you back here unconscious, we feared the worst" Gaepora walked over to Link's bed. "I am glad you are alright but Link I need to know what happened out there and what happened to my daughter?"

Link's face dropped and he looked away, unable to face the headmaster. He clenched his fist and took a deep breath trying to gather himself. Astra and Gaepora both look at Link silently waiting for an answer.

"Everything was normal, we were flying around talkings enjoying the nice day," Link started, "We fly when a black tornado came out of nowhere and we were pulled into it. I tried to reach for her but the storm threw me out. I-I think she was pulled down to the Surface."

"A black tornado?" Gaepora stroked his goatee and had a sad look on his face as if he knew something the two didn't. "That was no ordinary storm."

"We have to go look for her!" Astra said. "If she really is on the Surface then we need to send a search party after her." Link immediately nodded and swung his legs out of his bed and began putting on his boots that were lying on the floor. He went to stand up but a dizzy spell hit him making him fall back onto his bed.

"You must not push yourself, You're still recovering." Gaepora said before he hesitated. "When you were with Zelda did anything about her seem off?"

"Off how?" Astra looked at the headmaster in confusion.

"Did she do or say anything out of the ordinary? Perhaps saying something about the Surface?" Gaepora asked.

"Yeah she did actually." Astra's eyes lit up as he remembered. "When we saw just before freeing Epona she was talking about, asked us if we ever thought about what's down there and stuff. She said she felt like something was calling out to her."

"She also mentioned a voice." Link said thinking back on the strange interaction. "She tried to play it off but she wanted to know if we had heard it too but we hadn't." Gaepora seemed to sag as he listened to what the boys had to say.

"I see. So she spoke about it then." Gaepora sighed.

"That's not all sir. While I was unconscious I saw her in a dream," Link said, "I was floating when a voice told me I was a part of a great mission then Zelda appeared. We were both falling and I reached out to her but she fell into the mouth of a giant black creature." Astras' eyes widened at that.

"Wait a giant black scaled worm with a bunch of teeth?" Astra said, causing Link to remember the first dream he had where Astra was there.

"You've both been having dreams of a strange monster, Link is told that he is a part of a "great mission" and now my daughter is taken by a black tornado all at the same time." Gaepora muttered to himself. He was quiet for a while and the silence seemed to stretch on. Astra cleared his throat making Gaepora jump.

"Ah I'm sorry I lost my thoughts," Gaepora said, putting a reassuring hand on Link's shoulder, "This is all very strange but I doubt there is much of a connection."

"He knows something about what's going on." Urbosa said, looking at Astra. "Why is he acting like he doesn't?"

"He's trying to protect us." Astra sighed. "He knew legends of what was about to happen and didn't want that for us."

"We don't know what happened to Zelda but since her Loftwing is also gone I'm sure it's with her." Gaepora said and held up a hand when both boys opened their mouths to argue. "Even if we sent out search parties now it would be useless. Daybreak still has yet to arrive and it would be near impossible to spot a single girl and her Loftwing in the dark of night and I can't risk the safety of our knights."

"He isn't going to try to save his daughter!?" Zelda asked in outrage.

"He was the leader of the school, unfortunately he knew that if he had sent us out at that time there was a risk of losing more. It wasn't worth it to lose more knight looking for one when we could just wait a few hours for light." Astra knew the anger Zelda was feeling. He had felt it back then as well.

"You can't seriously plan to leave her alone out there!" Astra looked at Gaepora in shock.

"No, I will plan for search parties to set out but not until daybreak when it is safe." Gaepora said sternly, glaring at Astra. "Zelda will be fine, I know it. You both need to rest now so you can be ready to help with the search come morning." Gaepora marched out of the room without saying anything else to the boys.

"I can't believe he just wants us to go to sleep and act like nothing happened." Astra said as soon as Gaepora had left. "I say we head out and start looking for her now."

"The headmaster is right." Link said firmly, surprising Astra as well as the rest of the audience.

"You can't be serious right now, Zelda could be hurt right now and you want to just leave her out there." Astra asked his best friend in disbelief.

"Of course I don't want to but what can we do." Link snapped at Astra. "But like the headmaster said we would even be able to see her if we saw her. Plus we don't have any supplies ready for a extended trip. I want to find Zelda just as much as you but rushing out prematurely and unprepared will only make things worse."

"So what if we just let her suffer alone out there and do nothing?" Astra asked, getting anger now.

"No, we prepare to go out and look for her in the morning and don't come back till we find." Link told his irate friend. Astra looked like he was getting ready to argue more with Link before he sighed and got up.

"Fine I'll go pack some stuff for us but come first light we are leaving even if the headmaster tries to stop us." Astra said as he headed towards the door. Link watched him walk out and close it behind him. He sighed once again and flopped back onto his bed putting his arms over his eyes.

'How had it all gone so wrong? Today was great after he had won and the time he spent with Zelda alone made his stomach flutter but now it was all a mess.' Link thought to himself.

"Link"

Link sat up and looked towards his door after hearing someone call out his name. He strained his ear to see if he had just imagined it.

"Link please hurry"

This time he knew for a fact he heard something and stood up walking slowly towards his door. He saw Astra had left his sword earlier and carefully strapped to his back before he opened his door slowly and peaked outside. Looking around he saw a familiar form floating near the stairs to the top floor. She had a split blue and purple shirt with long flowing sleeves covering her hands and a large green gem in the center of her chest. Her tights where dark blue with green stripes criss crossed pattern down her legs but the strangest part of her was her head. It appeared to be made of some sort of blue crystal.

"What in the goddess name is that?" Revali asked in confusion but before anyone could answer a bright blue light shone from behind Zelda. Everyone turned to look to see Link had drawn the Master Sword which was the cause of the light.

"She was my closest companion." Link whispered in a trance. He didn't even seem to register the words he was saying as he stared at the floating woman with a look of nostalgia.

"Link? Are you alright?" Mipha asked in worry, seeing her crush was just staring with his sword drawn, seeming lost in thought. She had walked over and put her hand on his shoulder which made him jump. He blinked slowly a few times before his eyes focused on Mipha.

"Ah sorry I don't know what came over me there." Link said sheepishly as he sheathed the Master Sword. He looked to Astra for some sort of answer.

"She has been with you nearly as often as I have. The two of you share link so seeing her now even though this version of you never has you still recognize her." Astra said simply.

"You didn't answer who she is?" Revali said in annoyance looking at Astra.

"You'll see soon."

"It's you, the person in my dreams." Link realized. "Who are you and why do you keep showing me those things?" Link took a couple steps towards her and the figure suddenly started floating up the stairs.

"Wait." Link called after her and began to run up the stairs as well. He kept chasing her through the halls barely able to keep up with the shimmer of lights she left in her wake. She floated to the door that led outside and to Link's shock floated right through it with a chime and leaving a purple circle of light for a moment. He wasted no time in running to it and yanking it open hoping not to lose her.

When Link made it outside he saw that the woman was floating over the bridge but the moment she saw he was outside she took off again.

"Will you stop running and let me talk to you!?" Link shouted in exasperation but sprinted to try to catch her. She flew up the stairs towards the goddess statue but once she reached the top she veered off to the right. There was a small path that led to and uneven cliff face that Link had to jump down and climb to keep her in sight. He climbed a ledge onto a platform when suddenly Link froze.

Laying directly in his path was the Remlit he and Astra had saved earlier that day. Link slowly drew Astra's sword as quietly as he could hoping not to draw any attention to himself.

"Why is he drawing a weapon on that poor creature?" Zelda ask seemingly surprised and annoyed that anyone would want to hurt such a cute creature. Especially someone regarded as one of the greatest heroes in history.

"You're about to see why Remlits were so feared on Skyloft." Astra said with a shudder.

Unfortunately for Link the woman he was following didn't share his trepidation in regards to the small animal and flew right over it startling it to jump up and turn.

"What is that!?" Mipha said in disbelief as she stared in horror.

"That can't possibly be the same cute animal!" Zelda stared.

Remlits eyes were a glowing yellow and it bared in fangs while its tail popped up. The moment it saw Link it jumped to attack him. Link barely managed to roll under the claws meant for his face.

"Dammit lady." Link cursed the woman as he was forced to duck to avoid another attack by the demon spawn of a cat. Link quickly struck at it with his sword but Remlit was agile enough to dodge. It quickly struck and managed to claw at Link's right cheek, drawing blood. He winced and jumped back. When Remlit jumped next Link managed to smack it with the flat of his blade.

The creature whimpered and began to run from Link now that it had actually been hurt. Link knowing better than to just let the thing be ran after it. He quickly scooped it up after and ran towards the edge of Skyloft with the Remlit clawing at his hands.

"He wouldn't." Zelda's mouth hung wide open as she watched Sky head towards the edge of a Skyloft with Remlit in tow.

Link raised Remlit over his head and launched it as far as he could. The small feline fell through the sky before its oversized ears stretched out catching the wind. It then began to flap them as it flew away.

'Skyloft is such a strange place.' Impa couldn't help but laugh to herself as Zelda threw up her hands in exasperation. Impa was happy that the princess was being more expressive. She noticed the King shot his daughter with a disapproving look but ignored it. She felt that the princess more expressive nature was good for her after seeing the way Sun acted and if her suspicions were correct it would also beneficial to the kingdom as well.

Link continued after the woman until he came to a large wall. He saw a slight ledge just big enough for him to grab onto to hang from it while moving sideways. He moved over a drop between and dropped down on the other side of the cliff. He drew his sword, walking down into a sloped area and managed to cut a Keese out of the air before continuing on. He came to a stop at the edge of an island and looked over to see the floating woman on the other side of open air.

"Why can't you just make this easy on me lady." Link groaned before taking a few steps back and running to the edge of the island jumping to the floating path. He reached his hand out to grab the edge of it but let his body impact the side with a loud oof. Pulling himself up he climbed once more to the top of the island he was on. There he saw a large patch of vines with the lady floating up them.

Link ran and jumped once more before climbing the vines. Pulling himself on top he laid on the ground for a bit trying to catch his breath. He was exhausted from this chase and wanted to just close his eyes but the bell-like chimes from the woman got him to push himself off the ground with a curse and look around. He found himself in the area of the goddess statue for the third time that day.

Finally the floating woman stopped at the base of the Goddess statue and simply waited for Link to approach her. The moment he was in front of her she rushed backwards, phasing through the statue and causing something Link never would have imagined.

The spot the woman had gone had the royal family crest suddenly glowed and then the door simple vanished and opened a tunnel into the statue. Link entered a warmly lit room with a pedestal with a glowing sword in the center. The woman had vanished but as Link approached the sword it flashed brightly before somehow the woman appeared out of it and simply floated in front of it staring at Link with her blank expression.

"Are we finally done with this stupid game of tag?" Link questioned the lady in annoyance.

"The one chosen by my creator, I have been waiting for you." The woman's robotic voice echoed in the empty chamber. "You will play a role in a great destiny."

"Who or what are you?" Link asked the woman cautiously. "And what is this great destiny you keep talking about?"

"According to your social custom I should provide you with my personal designation. Fi is the name I was given." The now named Fi answered. "I was created for a single purpose long before the recorded memory of your people. I must aid you in fulfilling the great destiny that is your burden to carry."

"Why won't you answer the damn question on what this burden is?" Link was getting angry now at the way Fi just ignored his question on the topic.

"Come, Link. You must take up this sword as the chosen of my creator to fulfill your destiny." Fi said to Link once more, ignoring him. Link glared but didn't bother asking anything this time knowing it wouldn't be answered. He also didn't really want to do what Fi said as he didn't trust this strange woman from his dreams who appeared out of nowhere.

"Why is it so hard for her to just answer him?" Zelda asked. She felt the frustration Sky must have felt. He was being told he had a great burden but he knew nothing about what it really entailed. A part of her not for the first time wished that it was Sky who was fighting beside her instead of The Knight. She felt he would understand her more in being lost in their fate.

Link truly felt what his past incarnation was feeling. He suddenly had the weight of a great burden on his shoulders all because a Goddess chose him to draw a sword from a pedestal. He knew that Fi's creator had to be Hylia because while it hadn't been named Link somehow knew that blade was the Goddess Sword Astra had mentioned when answer the King's question before this viewing had begun.

"The strange dream, my sudden appearance, uncertainty regarding the fate of the one you hold dear," Fi continued. "It's only logical you don't trust me so I shall share something that my projections show have a high probability of altering your distrust. The honorable Zelda is still alive."

"Where is she? Why did that storm come" Link asked, wanting to know what Fi knew about Zelda.

"The spirit maiden… the one you call Zelda… is another chosen by fate." Fi answered. "Therefore should you wish to meet your friend, I highly recommend you take up this sword before you set out to search for her."

"Fine if that's what it takes to find Zelda I'll draw the stupid sword." Link gritted his teeth and ran up the small stairs to where the blade rested. It was a beautiful double edged blade with a greenish blue hilt and a V-shaped guard and a blue gem in the center.

"It is a beautiful blade." Link nodded at the project.

"In the name of my creator draw the sword and raise it skyward." Fi spoke floating above him. Link grabbed the blade with both hands and tugged it free. It rose out of its resting place without any resistance. The blade felt well balanced and the edges were razor sharp. Link raised it with his right hand and lifted it towards the sky where a strange light began to glow. The blade slowly began to glow starting and the tip and slowly going down the blade.

"Congratulations master. You now have drawn the Goddess sword."

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Finally we are getting off Skyloft with my longest and probably least favorite chapter. This story is a little over a year old and we are barely leaving the Tutorial. I did consider splitting this chapter into a regular sized one and a shorter one but decided it was better to leave it long. I really hated writing Sky's chase of Fi but it was a necessary evil. Regarding Gaepora I always felt he knew more than he let on but didn't want these children he raised to go caught the literal devil of the LoZ world. I wanted to add more reactions and admit I feel I made Zelda a bit OoC but I want to hear your opinions. The next chapter will be a little interlude before we get down to the Surface.

S.D Signing Out