"Normal Text": Reactions
"Italic Text": Astra Stories
*I do not own The Legend of Zelda. All rights go to Nintendo*
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Impa was truly enjoying herself. She was a little confused at first when she had been asked for by name and still wished to ask Astra about the ancient Sheikah since they had yet to make an appearance. She knew they would have to at some point given that Astra clearly had Sheikah training so she could be patient. What she loved most of this though was she was getting to see and hear the stories and places she had read growing up happen before her own eyes from someone who had actually lived them. She couldn't wait to see what Kakariko looked like in the Era of Time or see the Twilight realm. She especially couldn't wait for the true story of the Hero of Time since his had the most inconsistencies out of all the stories she had read.
She looked over to Link and saw him looking conflicted. She liked to think she had grown close to him over the last few years since he had drawn the Master Sword and joined the royal guard. She was able to notice that he wasn't as tense and actually let some of his emotions on his face although you really had to look closely to notice. She would ask him about it later but for now she was just glad he was feeling more open though a tiny amount.
The two flew back toward the giant statue and landed on a small platform near her face. The two stared in silence at the giant face looming above them before Zelda turned towards Link with her hand outstretched.
"Link, let me see the Bird Statuette you grabbed during the race." Zelda said, looking proudly at Link. "I need to present it to Goddess." After Link handed her the Statuette she walked over to a small alcove planted in the center of the wall and placed it inside. She then reached in her satchel on her side and pulled out her beautiful gold lyre and began strumming the same song she played earlier.
"This is such a beautiful melody." Zelda swayed to the music. "What is it called?"
"The Goddesses Ballad." Astra smiled as he closed his eyes and listened to his old friend play once a song he hadn't heard in a long time
"I could probably learn how to play this if you wish, Your Highness." Veigon said, trying to impress the princess. This got him a nod in thanks.
Zelda finished her song and turned around to face Link without saying a word she held her hand out once more. Link, seeing this, dropped to a knee and took Zelda's hand bowing his head. The two closed their eyes before she began to speak.
"Great Goddess, Guiding light and protector of our people, Grant us your blessing and mercy as I act in your stead during this ceremony. Valiant youth who grasped victory at the celebration of the bird folk… In accordance with the old ways… I now bestow the blessing of the goddess upon you." Zelda reached behind her back and untied something. She reached up to shoulders and pulled off the wrap she had been wearing around her shoulder. It was folded neatly and held out to Link.
"The blessing of the Goddess drift down from the heavens aloft a sail which I now pass on to you." Zelda smiled as Link took the proffered cloth. He stood with pride and began to put the sail cloth around his neck. He had a slight blush on his cheek and he got a whiff of the cloth. He turned around to hide his flushed face.
"Link, please be serious. This is supposed to be a sacred ritual, not that I don't understand that you're excited." Zelda lightly admonished her best friend before perking up. "Now please take care of this sailcloth. I spent a long time working on this to present it to the winner just as the Goddess did with her chosen hero long ago."
"I'm glad the person I got to give it to was you, Link," Zelda said with a blush of her own.
"I thought you said Sky was the first hero?" King Rhoam narrowed his eyes at Astra seeing something that contradicted what he said. Was he wrong to trust this man? Has all he showed them up till now been lies?
"That's because he was. At least in terms of the Chosen Hero of Hylia that reincarnates to rise and defeat calamity." Astra sighed. "I already told you that not all heroes had me with them. To add to that not every person who has been granted to the Title of Hero had the soul of the chosen."
"So you're saying it's possible for anyone to become the Hero of Hyrule?" Link asked. A part of him hoped that wasn't the case as he felt the only reason he was the hero now was he got lucky and didn't earn it.
"Well yes and no." Astra scratched his chin as he thought on how to answer this. "In my time there has only been one who hasn't had the soul of the hero that rose to the challenge but even then it was special circumstances. The Hero of Wind didn't have it when he began his journey but managed to earn it, allowing it to be given to his successor the Hero of Spirit."
"How is that possible?" Impa looked intrigued. How could one suddenly gain the soul of the hero.
"Due to some aspects of Time's Journey the Heroes Spirit was lost. However a tiny fragment of it remained in the Master Sword and during Wind's journey he was able to awaken it and fully become one of Hylia's Chosen." Astra shook his head. "However that is all I will say on the matter. You will find out more when it comes time to see both their journeys."
"Thank you Zelda. I really appreciate it and don't worry. I promise I will take good care of it." Link smiled at her. "I promised I would be the one up here today. I promise I'll always be up here for you."
"Thank you Link." Zelda walked towards Link. "Let's really finish up this ritual… You do know what happens at the end right." Zelda fluttered her eyelashes at Link as she took the final step leaning in putting them nose to nose. Link looked down into her deep blue eyes and felt his breath catch. Zelda reached her hands up to his shoulder and quickly spun him around.
"You have to jump off the Statue!" Zelda giggled with a mischievous smile on her face. " Jump and pull out your sailcloth and aim for the center there. Good Luck!" Zelda then pushed Link off the Statue.
"She seems to rather enjoy pushing him off extremely high places doesn't she?" Urbosa lightly laughed at the scene before her.
"She really shouldn't." Zelda sighed, rubbing her forehead. Honestly everyone on this island seemed to have no issue with potentially killing themselves via splattering the ground. She wasn't sure she would be able to handle living in a place so calm about this.
"Dammit Zelda." Link flailed his arm as he fell towards the ground. He tucked his arms in and angled his body into a nosedive. He quickly pulled off the sailcloth on his shoulder letting the wind catch it, slowing his descent. The sudden change in velocity wretched his shoulder in a way he didn't expect. He landed clumsily on the ground. He rubbed his shoulder where the Keese had clawed him and grumbled under his breath.
Link heard flapping and saw Zelda flying down upon him on her loftwing beaming at him.
"That was awesome Link". Zelda walked up to him after jumping off her Loftwing. She began fidgeting with her hands and looked down as she stood before him. The two stood apart but face to face with their Loftwings landing behind them creating a beautiful scene.
"You know, Link, seeing as you won, and the weather being perfect for a flight in the clouds… I was hoping that maybe we could fly together as a sort of celebration?"
"I would love to Zel." Link smiled and went over to his Loftwing."
Zelda had noticed the way both Sky and Sun looked and acted around one another. They were so carefree and comfortable around one another. The way the two could tease each other so casually made a bit of jealousy run through her. She couldn't help but wonder if her own relationship with the Hero would have been different had they been born as something other than the Princess and the Hero. She shook those thoughts from her head. Pondering the what ifs would do her no good against the calamity. The Hero now simply saw her as a burden anyway.
The two were flying side by side enjoying each other's company. They soared through the clouds and laughed.
"Today was amazing Link. I'm really glad that we got to perform the ritual together… I'll always remember this." Zelda smiled once more at Link.
"I'm really happy it was the two of us too." Link looked over to Zelda.
"You know Link, here's been something I've really been meaning to talk to you about…" Zelda said bashfully looking deep into Link's eyes.
Zelda opened her mouth to continue speaking when suddenly a bright flash of light exploded behind her.
"What in the goddesses name is that!?" Impa jumped up blades at the ready at the suddenness of the explosion.
"The start of our destiny." Astra said darkly. Those words made everyone in the room look on with apprehension at what was to come.
Out of the bright light a tornado suddenly formed and began flying toward the pair. Link and Zelda tried to dodge it with their Loftwings banking right sharply and beating their wings frantically.
"What's going on!" Zelda shouted in fear as both hers and Links Loftwings were dragged in the storm. The twister suddenly swerved left and slammed into Zelda and launched her from her Loftwing.
"LINK!!" Zelda shrieked as she held out her hand reaching out hoping that Link would catch her.
"ZELDA!!" Link shouted and immediately had Epona dive after her but was also thrown for her when he hit the storm. Link still tried to reach for Zelda, his own arm outstretched when Epona was slammed into him. The last thing he saw before blackness overtook his vision was Zelda being dragged below the cloud barrier screaming his name.
"Are they going to be alright!?" Zelda panicked as she saw Sun falling through the endless white expanse and Sky knocked unconscious falling.
"Depends on your definition I suppose." Astra said his eyes suddenly looked empty. "Neither die if that's what you're worried about." The answer did little to make anyone feel better but they knew that these vague answers were all they were going to receive.
"Where did that storm even come from?" Link asked instead, " Is that a normal issue in Skyloft?"
"Storms did suddenly appear from time to time but not like the one that took Sun." Astra answered honestly.
"How was that the start of your destiny?" King Rhoam demanded.
"For that you will have to keep watching." Astra said angering the King at once again being disrespected. Before he could say anything Astra began speaking once more causing the scene around them to change.
Link was falling through a familiar dark void while still unconscious. There was nothing but him as far as the eye could see.
"Link?" A strangely distorted female voice spoke up.
"Nhg" Link groaned as he struggled to open his eyes. He shut them quickly after being assaulted by a bright light above him. He blinked a couple before managing to open them to see a faint silhouette of a woman with flowing sleeves in the light.
"I'm waiting for you. It's time for you to awaken and find me." The voice continued. "You are vital to a mission of great importance, Link."
"Who are you? What mission are you talking about?" Link shouted at the woman. "What happened to Zelda?" Suddenly the black void around Link changed into a gray landscape and before him was Zelda. Link immediately reached his arm out once again to try and catch her. Zelda raised both arms reaching for Link when suddenly the giant black monster that had appeared in the first vision appeared mouth open to swallow Zelda. Just before she fell into its mouth Link's eyes snapped open and he sat up gasping for air.
"Link, thank the goddess you're awake." Astra jumped up from his seat next to Link. "You've been out for half a day already. What the hell happened out there?"
"Where is Zelda?" Link grabbed the front of Astra shirt not even acknowledging Astras question. Astra turned his head, unable to meet his best friend's eyes.
"We don't know." The deep voice of Gaepora said from the doorway. "Zelda's been missing since we found you."
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(A/N): Well here we have it. Sky and Sun separated and Sky learned he's apparently an important pawn. Not a lot of Astra in the retelling part of this chapter but at the end of the day this is Sky's journey to become a hero not Astras. There will be several chapters that I have Sky going alone such as the times he enters the Sacred realm and a couple boss fights I feel he would benefit from facing alone. As for the other bosses I've been reading An Impulsive Decision by AlphaGirl404 and Legends Retold: Ocarina of Time by SpartiateDienekes to get an idea of how to have Link fight with others during boss fights. I highly recommend checking them out. Now I don't know if I'll do this often but I want to answer one.
Ultimate Luck Ainzen: Thanks for always reviewing and I'm glad you like the chapter. As for the null I have decided to address it in OoT.
S.D Signing Out