"Normal Text": Reactions
"Italic Text": Astra Stories
I do not own The Legend of Zelda. All rights go to Nintendo*
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Urbosa stared at the boy out of time as he continued to speak of his past. He confused her quite a bit. Urbosa had noticed the way he seemed tense and uncomfortable around her. The way the boy reached for a weapon at her mere presence. The boy who was older than the very kingdom she was a part of. She hadn't done anything to deserve his attention and was extremely curious as to why he acted this way.
Despite whatever issues he had with her, Urbosa was glad he was here for what he represented for Zelda. The longer it went on without Zelda unlocking her power the more she saw it wear on the princess. Zelda had been losing faith in herself but when this man had appeared during the Knights ceremony the light had returned to her little bird's eyes. She truly hopes this boy had what Zelda needed.
Epona flew up into the sky spreading her wings and flew around the cove while the trio walked over to a ledge. Link had a huge smile on his face as he watched his Loftwing fly around.
"We should hurry, Link. Now that Epona is free you need to fly to the Ceremony." Zelda said then hesitated, "But before you go I have to ask you something about both of you. I…I heard this voice a few moments ago. Did you hear it too?"
Link and Astra looked at one another but both shook their heads at one another.
"Wait neither of you heard anything at all?" Daruk looked confused. "I clearly did and you are there so how could we hear it now if you hadn't then?" The group realized that the Goron Champion had a point. If Astra hadn't heard anything in the past, how had he been able to relay it to them now?
"Come to think of it now, how were you able to show us the creation of Hyrule when you weren't there either?" The soft voice of the Zora princess asked,
"Ah yes I suppose I should explain that." Astra said, looking around. "It's a gift of sorts from Hylia. She felt that it would be best if I knew all aspects of the journeys of the Heroes, even the parts I wasn't aware of at the time."
Zelda didn't seem to notice the short interaction between the two boys and continued on looking out over the expanse of clouds.
"It's been happening a lot lately. It's the strangest feeling… Almost like someone is calling out to me." Zelda shook her head and turned to her friends. "Have you ever wondered what's beneath the clouds?"
The sudden topic shift threw the boys of guard but Link answered first.
"No, not really." Link shook his head. "If what people say is true then it's nothing but a barren wasteland so there is not much point worrying about it, right?"
"I feel that they're wrong." Zelda said with a sudden passion in her voice. "I've found some old textbooks in my fathers study that tell of a place called the Surface. They say there is a whole world down there far more vast than Skyloft! Places with water as far as the eye can see, mountains with burning rocks that run like rivers, entire areas with nothing but trees that spread out more than Skyloft! Can you imagine the beauty of it all?"
'She sounds just like the Princess when she is talking about her research' Link thought to himself as he watched Sun ramble on about the Surface. He found it adorable. A small almost unnoticeable smile bloomed on his lips.
"Even so, it's not like we could see it, our Loftwings refuse to fly below the Barrier and no one would risk jumping through." Astra said, looking down below. "Well unless they're insane."
"Still I hope to someday see it for myself." Zelda a faraway look in her eyes before Epona's squawk started her. "Oh right sorry Link, we don't have time to be standing around talking you're already late!"
The trio all took a few steps back and as one ram forward and jumped. Three shrill whistles rang out before the first trio of heroes were soaring upwards on their respective Loftwings. Zelda's blue, Links Red and Astra's Black. They began flying towards the large windmill and landed their Loftwings. They gave them a small snack from a pounce hanging off each of their belts before sending them off.
"Well I better go tell father what happened." Zelda spoke after she had sent away her Loftwing."Good luck today Link." She ran off towards the academy waving at the two boys.
"Well, well, if it isn't Link." The annoyingly familiar voice of Groose spoke up behind the two. "Word around the plaza is that you found your bird."
"Yeah funny thing about that. She was locked up in a cave near your hang out spot." Link growled and took a step forward toward Groose and his lackeys.
"Well isn't that strange." Groose laughed. "But funny how just for you the race was delayed. Why do you get special treatment? I'm sure it's only because of how close you are with Zelda. Don't think I have noticed the smug looks."
"'Ooooh Zelda and I are best friends. We go everywhere together and I get special favors from her."' "You think you're pretty suave don't you?"
"He is still so jealous of the Sky and Sun friendship! It's honestly a shame." Revali snorted.
"Groose is still convinced it's gonna be him that ends up with Zelda" Cawlin whispered over to his companion.
"I know. Even though I know it'll probably be Link be Grooses pride refuses to accept that." Stritch whispered back hoping Groose didn't hear him.
"Well I hate to break it to you but todays the day I bust up that adorable little fantasy you have in your head." Groose declared. "When I win the race and Zelda gives me the sailcloth as her role of the goddess I'll prove to her that it's me not some scrawny clown that deserves something made by Zelda personally. Then Zelda and I will have our special moment alone."
"Please Groose we all know the only one who is living in a fantasy here is you." Astra snorted. "Zelda made that sailcloth for Link and you know it." This statement causes both Link and Grooses faces to go red at the same time but for very different reasons.
"What is this sailcloth you both keep mentioning?" Zelda asked.
"It's a traditional thing we used to jump off our Loftwings and land safely on Skyloft without forcing our birds to land. It also symbolized your status as a Knight." Astra said to the princess.
Before either of them could say anything a loud cough sounded out behind Astra and all three boys froze.
"What was that about a special moment between us Groose?" Zelda said irritated at the conversation she had just walked into.
"I…uh! Nothing, I mean just that…" Groose sputtered out trying to think of something to say before he looked at Link. "I was just glad my good buddy Link here found his Loftwing so me and him could have a nice fair race. Speaking of, I need to get ready for it now later Zelda. Watch for me when I win." Groose marched off with his two lackeys following behind him.
"Ha sent him away like always Zel," Astra said when Zelda walked up to him and punched his arm, "OW! What was that for?"
"For what you said about why I made that sailcloth" Zelda said angrily with a small blush on her face. She glared at her friend before turning to Link.
"You need to be careful, Link. Knowing Groose the chances of a fair race happening with him involved are less than zero." Zelda huffed, "I know you got these guys beat and are going to do great."
"The Wing Ceremony will now begin! Participating students, please assemble at the base of the Windmill." Owlan shouted out and rang a bell.
"Well it sounds like it's time for you to go. Good luck Link. I'll be watching" Zelda gave him a hug smiling at him.
"Here let me see that sword so I can return it to the sparring hall." Astra held out his hand and Link handed it over. Astra put a hand on his shoulder causing Link to wince. "Ah sorry man, but good luck. I know you'll kick Grooses ass."
"The three of you seem so close to one another." Zelda sighed feeling slightly bitter
HTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHT
Link,Groose,Stritch, and Cawlin all stood before Headmaster Gaepora and Owlan.
"Your attention, please. At last we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony." Owlan began his speech. "I was beginning to worry that we'd have to proceed without Link but luckily that is no longer a concern. I'm glad you could all make it. Before we start, I'll explain the rules for today's competition."
"I have attached a small statuette to this bird, who I will then release to the skies. On my signal, dash from the starting line and dive off the ledge. Once you are in the air, mount your Loftwings. Whoever catches the bird and claims statuette will be this year's champion"
"Try to do your best as the champion will graduate to the next class and one step closer to knighthood. He will also receive a gift from the young Zelda who has been chosen as this year's Goddess in the ritual." Owlan said, spreading his arms. "This year's ritual is especially special considering we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our fine institution and shall receive their gift atop the Statue of the Goddess and I hear that it was handcrafted by young Zelda herself." Zelda was standing off to the side with Astra watching and gave a small wave.
"I want to see how hard you have been practicing so go out there and show me your finest flying." Owlam said before his face hardened into a stern frown. "If I see any interference coming from one of you they will have to answer to me, understood?"
"That goes double for you Groose!" Gaepora looked at the red pompadour headed boy. The four boys all nodded. They watched as the golden Loftwing took off into the sky with the small statuette tied to its tail feathers.
"All right gentlemen, line up at the pier edge. On my mark you will all jump and begin the test." Owlan said.
"3!"
Link leaned forward looking at the others ready to jump.
"2!"
Groose looked to his left, seeing Link and sneering at him.
"1!"
Cawlin and Stritch adjusted strange lumps in their tunics grinned at each other.
"They are planning something." Impa said immediately not liking the look the two boys face's.
"Oh without a doubt, the question is how bad is it and how will it interfere with Sky?" Zelda agreed not liking the boys one bit. She really disliked this group of boys who treated the Hero of the Sky so terribly simply because of his friendship with Sun. She ignored the traitorous thoughts that whispered she was no better towards her own Hero. It was different.
"GO!!"
The four boys all jumped whistling and being caught by their Loftwings and soaring away from the main island and after the golden Loftwing. Groose was in front followed by Link and Cawlin and Stritch flying beside one another in the back. They raced after the golden Loftwing who was weaving in between the floating rocks that were around the island.
Link saw one of the rocks that had a hole missing out of the center that was ahead and got an idea. He had Epona dive and threaded the needle causing Epona to spin and shoot out fast enough to overtake Groose and get close enough to the statuette he could almost reach it. Just before he could wrap his fingers around it however something slammed into Epona sending spiraling and causing pain to shoot down Links arm from his shoulder from where he was slammed into that nearly sent him toppling off of his Loftwing.
"Ha, don't think you'll win today." Groose laughed as he flew off from where he slammed into Link. Link was going to yell at him when he felt something hit him in the back of the head and slid down his back.
"Let see you win like with these being tossed at you." Cawlin said as he readied another egg with Stritch doing the same next to him.
"Of course they would do something like this." Link growled as he dodged one of the eggs. He saw Groose gaining on the golden Loftwing. He tried to catch up as every time he got he was pelted with eggs. While they didn't hurt too bad they did sting and a few times he had to wipe egg yolk from his eyes.
"Those no good cheats!" Zelda exclaimed. "Why do they go so far just to make things hard for Sky."
"They're jealous of him." Link spoke up for the first time in the reading, startling with her and one of the first times he spoke directly to her. "In their mind Sky has something they wish they could and feels he doesn't deserve it so they are trying to make him feel like he doesn't." He knew all too well how that felt.
"Well Groose feels that way." Urbosa frowned at the scene. "The other two seem just to be his lackeys who do what he says."
"Where are the teachers?" Mipha asked. "Didn't they say that they would be keeping an eye on them specifically Groose so something like this wouldn't happen."
"Hey that's right." Daruk said remembering that Gaepora had singled out Groose. Everyone looked to Astra but when he didn't answer they just turned back to the illusion.
Link had Epona fly around some of the floating rock and hovers there watching the chase happening.
"I need to figure out a way to get close." He saw that Cawlin and Stritch had spread out a bit and got an idea. He patted Epona and had her speed toward the gap in between the two. Just like he expected, they raised their eggs and got ready to throw them. Link waited for till the last moment and had Epona dive as the eggs brushed past his head and hit both boys in the face.
"Ack." Cawlin said as his vision was obscured.
Link took this chance to rise as high as he could and begin chasing after Groose and the golden Loftwing. He managed to get right above them and dove in between the two startling Groose and grabbing the statuette as he rushed past.
"Better luck next time Groose." Link laughed as he held onto the small bird statue heading back towards Skyloft.
"Yes he got it." Impa cheered seeing the first Hero fly triumphantly back to the island.
HTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHTHT
Link was flying towards Skyloft taking a victory flight and was going to fly up to the ledge when suddenly.
"Link!!"
Link looked up eye's widening and saw Zelda jump from the ledge and was hurtling down towards him. He held out his arms and had Epona speed up to catch her. She slammed into him and the sudden extra weight caused Epona to squawk and have to beat her wings hard to regain the lost altitude.
"Zelda are you alright?" Link asked worry in his voice.
"Don't worry, I'm fine" Zelda giggled. "You did great Link! Congratulations!!" She threw her arms around him and laughed. "Now let's go to the Goddess Statue and do the Ceremony!"
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(A/N): Well here it is. The race is now complete and we can get to the Ceremony and after that the true game. I tried to do something a little different here and added scenes to the race because admittedly it's hard to write how it goes in the game so hopefully it's not too bad. I also tried to add more reactions from the champions because they have very little and I want to change that. *Major spoilers for Echoes of Wisdom ahead STOP HERE if you haven't already played* So I have finished the game and it has left me conflicted. The game itself was pretty decent and I like the fact we now have a canonical mute Link but my issue is with Null. It's such a major piece of lore that I feel I should add but don't know if I will. I mean he's the entire reason the Golden Three created the world and may be where demise comes from. Let me know what you all think.
S.D Signing Out