Normal Text": Reactions

"Italic Text": Astra Stories

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

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The scene opens with one of an older Zelda standing in front of an enormous statue playing a golden Harp and singing when a large blue bird lands in front of her. She smiled at it before putting a letter in its beak and it flew off showing the beauty of Skyloft. The small stream flowing through the center that ran off the side of the land spraying into clouds below separated the small gathering of houses from the large central building connected only by two bridges. The bird banked left to avoid a strange floating house with a bell underneath barely missing a large tower and sped towards a large two-story building.

Zelda watched the bird fly around in awe. This was all so incredible. The island was beautiful and it took her breath away. To think that this was a place where Hylians had once lived, she wondered what it would be like to live there. What kind of ancient contraption was that strange flying building that the bird had flown past? Maybe Astra could tell her and Purah about them. The application of such an invention could have moving supplies or for simple travel could reduce travel time by a significant amount.

Suddenly they were in a dark void when a flash of green and gold and an older version of the sandy-haired blonde boy was floating alongside Astra in a dark void. A loud monstrous roar suddenly broke the silence when a large mouth that could eat the entire room they had been standing in filled with razor-sharp teeth, each as tall as a person. Then there was a purplish pink flash illuminated the world showing a towering worm-shaped figure roughly 40 feet tall with black scales and multiple rows of teeth and black smoke flowing off it. A bright white light tinged with purple appeared above the beast.

"Rise Link. The time has come for you to awaken," A strange distorted female voice began speaking, "You are fated to have a hand in a great destiny, and it will soon find you. The time has come for you to awaken, Link." Link and Astra looked at each other in confusion. The beast roared, making both boys flinch before the beast disappeared. They heard a strange cawing sound causing them to look around before Link came face to face with the blue bird from earlier.

"What was that monstrosity!?" Impah shouted in shock. The others nodded their heads in agreement. That roar had caused them all to shake in fear. That beast was nothing like anything they had ever seen before.

"That was the Imprisoned. An ancient being that wanted to destroy the world," Astra told everyone, hands clenched in anger, "Trust me that won't be the last time you see that particular monster during Skies quest."

Link and Zelda shared an uneasy glance. An ancient being wanting to destroy the world that the hero met before. Was that the Calamity that they would have to face? The thought terrified Zelda enough to momentarily forget her animosity with the Knight and be thankful she wouldn't face it alone.

Suddenly Link fell out of his bed with a loud thud. The blue bird poked its head into his room through the window and spit the letter out onto Link's face before leaving. Astra walked in at that moment, saw his best friend lying on the ground, and laughed.

"Well good morning sleepy head," Astra said, holding a hand out to pull Link up. Link accepted the hand and got to his feet. He opened the letter and started reading it.

"Hey, sleepyhead. I know how much you like to sleep in, so I'm guessing this letter will be your alarm clock this morning. Did I guess right? Rise and Shine, Link! It's the Wing Ceremony today. You and Astra promised me that you both would meet me at the Goddess Statue before it started. You two better not keep me waiting. -Zelda

Link smiled and handed Astra the letter to read. He then started putting on his clothes for the day and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Astra laughed as he read the letter. "She knows you well buddy. I was coming to wake you up because I knew that you wouldn't be up in time and I don't want to piss Zel off again. Last time she got her father to make us clean the toilets because you decided to sleep past the morning workout." Link shuddered as he remembered cleaning that toilet late at night when a ghost hand jumped out of it. Whatever was up with that toilet was something he never wanted to know.

"Yeah I know but you also didn't show up which was in no way my fault." Link rolled his eyes at his friend.

"And suffer the torture Eagus puts us through without my best buddy. Are you insane?" Astra cried dramatically putting an arm around Link's shoulder as the two walked down the hall. Link laughed and shrugged Astra off as they walked towards the door when they saw a boy in an orange tunic similar to Astra's struggling to lift a barrel.

"Hey Fledge, need a hand?" Link asked the boy.

"Ahh hey guys, uh sure if you don't mind I need to take these to the kitchen," Fledge said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. Link and Astra each grabbed a barrel over their shoulder and carried them to an old lady who thanked them. The two boys were walking toward the door when Fledge ran up to them.

"Wait, I've got something for you two as a thanks, here's half of the pay I got for the job" The boy pulled out 4 Blue rupees and handed them two each. Link and Astra took them gratefully and stored them in their wallets. They waved goodbye to Fledge and went out the front door.

"That uniform looks similar to your current one. What is it, it can't be your school uniform as Sky is not wearing one?" Urbosa asked Astra.

"That is the official Knights Uniform of Skyloft. The reason Sky doesn't have one is because he has yet to win the Wing Ceremony which grants you both the Knight title and its uniform." Astra said, pulling at his floppy green hat. "Most heroes have a variation of this outfit passed down from the legends of other heroes."

Link looked at the outfit Astra was wearing and couldn't hide the distaste on his face. He was suddenly glad to be wearing the Champions Tunic the Princess had made. He would hate to run around with that hat.

Astra saw the look on Link's face and laughed. "Yeah a few of them weren't exactly happy about this clothing style. Wind in particular wasn't a fan."

Link and Astra started walking towards the large statue when suddenly a man called them from a balcony above them.

"Link, Astra I could use your help if you two don't mind coming up here." The two boys shared a look and nodded before both ran up to a box set near a raised ledge and jumped quickly pulling themselves onto the ledge before jumping across a gap and landing with a roll.

"What was the point of that exactly?" Zelda asked watching the two do parkour for seemingly no reason when they could have just taken the stairs. Rhoam looked like he was going to berate his daughter for questioning the ways of her betters but Astra spoke up before he had the chance.

"Training mostly." Astra shrugged. "Horwell liked for us to be able to move effectively in case of issues.

Impa leaned over to Link and whispered in his ear, "Hey if you are available do you want to do some parkour training with me after we finish up the stories for the night, maybe we can even get Astra to join us?" Link nodded his head. While he and Impa weren't particularly close, they would occasionally train together when they had time or simply ran into one another at the training field. He was also interested in seeing the Ancient hero in action.

The two boys walked over to the long-haired brunette man.

"I was hoping you boys wouldn't mind helping me find Headmaster Gaepora's pet Remlit, Mia?" Horwell asked his two students. "She's run off again and I can't seem to find her."

"Sure Instructor, we got a bit before we were supposed to meet Zelda anyway." Link told the man.

"Any idea where she might be?" Astra asked the man.

"She's probably on the roof of the back building again but I'm afraid I'm not able to get there to check with the Wing Ceremony so soon I would hate to ruin my clothes. " Horwell said, waving behind him. Link and Astra shared an annoyed look before walking over to the wall and saw a ledge on the wall leading over to the overhang.

"I'll climb up on the roof and toss the demon down to you," Link told his brother in all but blood who nodded in response. Link jumped up grabbed a hold of the ledge and shimmied his way over till he made it to the first overhang. He ran and leaped across landing with a roll before climbing up some vines that had grown on the building up to the roof. When he pulled himself up he heard a meow and saw the white-colored cat with abnormally large ears lying on the roof above him. He saw a crate nearby and pushed it over to the wall climbing up to the roof. He grabbed the little beast and jumped down to the crate walking to the edge of the building throwing it down to Astra. The Remlit floated down, flapping its ears and landing smoothly in Astra's open arms.

"That thing is so adorable." Mipha gushed, wishing she had one to cuddle with. Those ears looked so cute.

"That is a spawn of evil. They are called remlits and they may be cute during the day but at night they are a totally different animal." Astra said, shuddering. Nobody wanted anything to do with an animal that could make a veteran hero shudder.

Link jumped down next to Astra and the two walked over to Horwell handing him the small animal. After they were thanked and given 10 rupees each the two walked down the path that led to a large staircase walking up it led them to the area where Zelda had been standing. The beautiful sound of a harp along with voice. The two see Zelda standing with her back to the two of them playing her golden harp and singing a song.

"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess… Unite earth and sky… bring light the the land." Zelda's melodious voice echoes around and turns around quickly after hearing the sound of their footsteps behind her.

"Hey! Good morning you two." She smiles at her two best friends. She is wearing a light red dress with a yellow collar and a blue diamond stitched into the chest. A white cape hangs off her shoulders similar to the one Astra wears. She has a blue flap with the Hyrulian crest embroidered in white attached to her brown belt and a beaded sash around her waist. Her golden hair is done with her two bangs tied with green and pink ribbons with the rest flowing down her back in a low ponytail.

This was the first good look everyone got of the first Zelda and couldn't help but admire her beauty. Link couldn't help but look at his princess and think she was much more beautiful and elegant. He shook those improper thoughts from his head and turned back to Astra who was smirking at him.

"I'm glad my Loftwing got you out of bed," Zelda smiled at Link with a teasing glint in her eye, "I was pretty sure you'd sleep in and forget to meet me this morning."

"Ah come on Zel you know I would have gotten him up even if you hadn't scared him awake this morning," Astra said slapping a sheepish Link on the back.

"I'm sure you would have used Link's sleeping habits as an excuse to avoid coming as well Astra," Zelda rolled her eyes in amusement, "But look at this instrument and outfit! They're mine to use today in the ceremony since I'll be playing the role of the goddess."

Zelda held out the harp proudly to the boys, "Aren't they beautiful? Especially this instrument! I was told it's just like the one the goddess was said to have in the legends." She plucked a few strings before adding," It sounds gorgeous too. I asked my father about it and he said it was called a harp. I even made the wrap myself just for today. Between the harp and this outfit, I'm going to make a great goddess."

Link smiled at how proud Zelda looked about everything. She did look amazing in her outfit. She did a little twirl to show off a bit. He blushed a bit as he stared at her. Astra just laughed at his best friend's red face patting him on the shoulder.

"I woke you early this morning because I wanted you to be the first to see me like this Link!" Zelda said her face turned slightly red. "How do I look?"

"Uh..um you look beau-great. You look great." Link told her with Astra still laughing in the background. Link shoved him while Zelda's smile widened before a voice spoke up from behind the three.

"Ah, there you are, Zelda. Are you all prepared for today's ceremony?" A male voice said as the three teens turned to face the speaker.

"Oh hello, Father," Zelda says to a large man wearing an orange robe with a red scarf and the traditional white cape that every Knight of Skyloft wears. He was mostly bald except for a small hair around his ears. The most striking thing about him was his unibrow which was in a u.

"Headmaster Gaepora hello." Link and Astra greeted the man.

"Ah Link, it's encouraging to see you up so early, given your capacity for sleep. No doubt today's ceremony had you too excited to close your eyes for once!" Gaepora said beaming at his young student. "If you win today's ceremonial race, you'll get to participate in the post-race ritual with Zelda, so give it your best out there. If you win you'll finally be a Knight like Zelda and Astra."

"Yes, about that… Father, I don't know if he can do it!" Zelda yelled, making Link cringe at the sudden loud noise and her words. "Recently Link hasn't been practicing much at all for the ceremony! If he even is riding his Loftwing, he's just lazily gliding around, probably daydreaming."

"Please Link is one of the best riders we have. I'm sure he'll do fine." Astra argued in defense of his friend. "Plus he has Epona."

"Astra is correct, no need to worry yourself, Zelda." Gaepora said to his daughter, "Though you may have a point. Today's Wing Ceremony tests the skill of the rider as well as his bond to his bird. Victory will not come easily." Link rubbed the back of his head nervously. "And, as you pointed out, I haven't seen him practicing as hard as some of the other students. Just like Astra said there is no need to fret about him. You've known him since you were little. Not to mention Link and his Loftwing have a connection unlike any I've seen. We are only made whole by our Loftwings the gifts from the goddess as a sign of her divine protection."

"What does he mean made whole?" Link asked intrigued by this. He felt a special connecrtion with his horse a chestnut mare named Epona which he couldn't help but notice shared the name of Sky's Loftwing.

"Just as Headmaster said each person had a Loftwing who was essentially a part of their soul. When you reached the age of 7 you would go to the goddess statue and your Loftwing would come to you. That would be the day you feel whole." Astra said lifting a chain with a black amulet with a stylized bird similar to the red one on Links Hylian Shield.

"So why don't we have them anymore?" Zelda asked. She had wondered about this since she first saw Zelda's blue Loftwing.

"I haven't any idea." Astra admitted with a shrug, "Loftwings were a large part of our life on Skyloft but by Minish's era they simply didn't exist."

"Why I remember how jealous you were of how easily Link and his Crimson Loftwing bonded Zelda." Gaepora louds out a chuckle, "I suppose I can't blame you. Anyone who has something special is bound to catch some nasty looks sooner or later"

"Yeah, especially from a pompous pompadour-headed ass," Astra muttered under his breath.

Zelda sighed and shook her head at both her father and friend, "This isn't something to be taking so lightly you two. This ceremony is a part of the final test for those training to be Knights of Skyloft. What if Link doesn't do well on the test today and messes up his big chance to become a knight."

"Calm down my dear. It will be fine," Gaepora raised his hands trying to calm his daughter, "Honestly it's like you become a completely different person when you worry about Link."

"Gee, I wonder why?" Astra said before quieting when Zelda glared at him. She stared at the two before turning on her heels and stomping over to where Link had wandered off during the conversation. She grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to a wooden ledge hanging off the edge of the island.

"You need to squeeze in some practice before the race. You will thank me later!" Zelda pushes Link in front of her right near the edge.

"Zelda wait I can sense my Loftwing right now." Link shouted in a panic.

"Hmm, oh you can't "sense" your Loftwing right now. Zelda said rolling her eyes, "a likely excuse to weasel your way out of practice. Nice try Link but your not fooling me."

"Hang on Zelda if he can't sense her there is a problem," Astra said walking up to the two.

"Why wouldn't he be able to sense her? I'm sure he will be fine," Zelda said pushing Link off the island watched as Link fell towards the clouds whistling.

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And there we have it the official gameplay. Admittedly I don't like this chapter due to the fact it's mostly just exposition but since a majority of the early game is just cutscenes can't do much about it. I'm trying to find the right balance of storytelling and reaction so I would love it if you all tell me how my chapter is triple my usual length which is part of why it's taken as long. I plan to do chapters by certain points, not word count so don't expect them all to be this long. The next chapter with probably cover the findings of Sky's Loftwing and maybe the race but I might save that for later I don't know yet. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

S.D Signing Out