LoZ Skyward Tales 6

Well, obviously Link hadn't been eaten by Chu Chu's, cause he was up in the air with the others, flying through the air like a fair haired god on his red bird. I swear, I'm not kidding! The sunlight made his hair glow like fire!

Urgh, okay, before I got to lost in those dreamy thoughts, Fledge suddenly started pulling on my sleeve: „Wanna go climb the lighttower with me? We can watch the whole ceremony from there. Here we only see a tiny bit of what's going on!"

I grinned mischievously. I mean, c'mon! Good little shy Fledge goes climbing up the Lighttower, I'd never thought I'd see the day. Laughing I started climbing the ladder on the side of the long building. Fledge was right after me. After we hit the first landing I dared check on the situation in the air. The golden loftwing was keeping his distance nd none of the participants seemed to have gotten all too close yet. Looked like this would be a long day.

I could see Link's loftwing for a brief moment and frowned. He was not necessarily slower than usual, but a lot less concentrated. He kept loosing altitude and Link was having some trouble keeping him in the air. They'd make it, it would just take a while.

„Um, Medowlaria? Aren't we going to go to the top?" Fledge asked uncertainly, sounding mildly out fo breath. I faced him, thinking he should really sport up his stamina. But before I could reply He said, sounding uncomfortable: „I-I mean we don't have to or something! This is just fine and..."

„Seriously, Fledge, gimme a break, it's okay! Don't worry so much!" I quickly tried to calm him, rolling my eyes. Okay, stamina and self confidence.

We started climbing up, but in that moment, I heard a shriek across the whole sky. I recognized the voice, that was the golden loftwings'!

„What's going on out there...?" I thought, squinting. It hadn't been the triumphant caw telling everyone, that someone had won, it had been a shriek of surprise. But from my position I couldn't see anything.

After Fledge had said something, I noticed, that I had stopped midway up and quickly proceeded to the top of the lighthouse, carefull not to step on the giant orb in the ground (the one no one knows what it's there for) and looked out.

My jaw dropped.

Those jackasses where throwing eggs at Link and his bird!

Fledge gasped and I heard some covered murmurs from below. Oh my, they where really determined to fail, weren't they! We watched in awe, as Link again and again tried to reach his goal. Slowly I got the feeling, that he was more fighting the other three and was acutally the only one who was concentrating on actually getting the golden loftwing. A bit nervous I watched as Link dodged the eggs and suddely flew high above into the sky.

„What is he doing?" Fledge mumbled. I couldn't have told him I had wanted to. Was that a strategy? The crimson red color of his loftwing glowed like a fire crossing the sky and flew ever and ever higher, starting to circle above the ceremonial grounds. It almost seemed as if they where lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike their prey. In moments like those, you could really see the perfect harmony between Link and his bird. They flew as if they where steered by one mind. Not even me and my loftwing managed to sync at that level.

Suddenly they bucked up briefly and the next thing we knew, was that they where diving, falling, out of the middle of the sky, shooting directly at the golden loftwing, who of course hadn't noticed them, since they where approaching from above. I held my breath. They where going to crash! They where going way to fast to be able to stop that dive!

But he caught his bird perfectly, cutting off Cawlin, Strich and my annoying brother in one, just behind the golden bird with the statue. My heart stopped for a moment. I swear, the whole world froze midtracks.

He dodged one a futile attack with ease and started standing up on the back of his bird, reaching out infront of the sun to the little statue in the claws of the golden loftwing. Something about that picture throbbed in my heart. He was so beautiful. It might be weird to call a boy beautiful, but I just thought he was. A beautiful man I loved everything about. Even thought he was a few hundred yards away, I could see the details of his determined expression and the energy in his hand as he clasped his hands around the statuette and hoisted it up in triumph.

Fledge squeeled happily and I heard Zelda shrieked a very loud: „YES!"

I was about to break out into applause, but all words got stuck in my throat. I could see Zelda running at the ledge and jumping off with a strangely graceful ease. And I could also see that she was not planning on calling her bird. It was not until Link caught her out of the sky that I dared breathe. They flew off towards the statue of the goddess, reminding me of the final part of the ceremony. Oh yeah, the „promised private time" that Groose had hoped for.

I gulped. In a way, Groose's fantasies hadn't all been stupid. The idea of standing on the top of the grand statue with him, handing him the present I had helped to make...

But he thought me annoying.

I groaned. Great, now I needed to know! As if he had neard me, I heard a familiar caw hovering above my head.

I almost arrived fast enough to witness the whole procedure, but unfortunately I missed almost half of it. By the time I had circled around to watch from above, so no one would catch me, he was just receiving the sailcloth. Unfortunately I was to high up to understand what was being said. Grumbling, I allowed my loftwing to land on the statues head, looking down uncertainly. Come to think about it, I had no clue what actually happened after the wing ceremony. Pipit had been all red faced and happy after his, in a suspicious way, mind you.

And damn, Zelda was getting a heck of a lot too close to Link for my taste.

My bird chirped in a comical way, but my heart was sinking by the second.

I shouldn't have done this. If they should kiss now (my whole body shook at the thought) I would never be able to look either Link or Zelda in the eye again. Ever!

I held my breath. Zelda had closed the space between them so far, that their foreheads where touching. I couldn't see, what exactly they where up to, but it seemed to me as if they weren't kissing. Yet. Something weird was in the air. A hint of fear, anticipation and nervousness was reeking off those little lovebirds down there, which was driving me mad, but there was something else.

This feeling of someone watching me was still there. It had been lurking and had even faded to the point where I couldn't feel it at all anymore. But now it was back. And it was very intense.

But before I could collect one more thought, Zelda, without any warning, judging Links expression, suddenly whirled him around and pushed him of the ledge. For one moment I was ready to fling myself after him and catch him out of the air with my bird, but then I saw how he hoisted up the sailcloth and landed in the middle of the round plate beneath the statue.

My heart still pounding like I'd just run around Skyloft without catching my breath once, I leaned back against my bird, listening to the blood racing past my eardrums. In the name of the goddess, I'd just been so scared for him!

I was such an idiot! I knew that he didn't need saving, or help or anything, he was just fine on his own! And he couldn't stand it, when I kept worrying about him. Why couldn't I just leave him alone? He had told me straight in the face, that he found me annoying. I should really try letting him go.

Are you alright? my bird suddenly cawed, looking rather worried. Out of whatever reason, seeing him giving me such a caring glance made me want to cry. I shook my head: "I have to get out of here… Can we go out to one of the islands? Please?"

I guess it was the "please" part that alarmed him the most. I never say please, unless it's really necessary. Whatever it was, he allowed me to crawl on his back and took off into the sky, soundlessly, while Zelda followed Link down, using her bird. They had free time now, I knew that. Usually the participants where even encouraged to spend some time alone with their birds. Groose had explained that to me once, but I forgot most of the details. However, it was also rather common, that they would fly out together with friends, many even flew over to Pumkin landing to fetch some soup. They usually didn't come back to the celebration till late at night which always got them in trouble. Not that they flew at night, I was the only unauthorized kid around here who was brave/stupid enough to do that. They just grouped together in some corner and drank themselves silly. Yeah, I know. Really uncool.

But I didn't want to know where they went. I didn't want to go back to the rest of the Island where I'd undoubtedly be encountered by snide remarks on my bone-head-of-a-brothers behavior. And I most definitely didn't feel like going home and just staying there. Best would be, if I just got out of the way.

It didn't actually take long to get to one of the Eastern islands, where we sat down and watched the birds fly at the horizon. But for me it felt like hours. I was getting angry again, but I wasn't stupid enough to vent it on my bird again. That one of these mistakes I actually only made once and never again.

Instead, I was angry at Groose. His little ego had definitely suffered some serious puncturing today and to be perfectly honest, he so totally deserved it! What an idiot! Attacking and having his minions (yes I know that's a mean term for Strich and Cawlin but seriously?) attack my Link! (Yes, I know I'm being posessive!)

But lying on my back on the little island, I had to think about what Zelda had said about the world under the clouds. The big surface… What would it be like to stare at the clouds from below? I didn't really want to think about it. It gave me a weird feeling. The same one I'd experienced while she'd still been describing it: A longing. I really could imagine it.

Before I could stop myself, I was painting images in my head of how the surface could look like. Maybe there where even bigger loftwings down there? For all I knew our birds grew the biggest when they had enough to eat, and I could imagine that there was loads of food on the endless surface. Maybe there where some other kinds of Remlits? Maybe they had different colors or longer fur. Imagining a long-haired Mia made me smirk. What if there where even more kinds of animals and - I shuddered at the thought - monsters? I could learn about them too, I could mend them and earn more money. Also, that'd give me a fool-proof excuse for getting out of my house.

What if the surface is really different than you think it is? my bird groaned after I'd filled him in on my ideas. He had decided to take a break here with me. But I didn't let that discourage me: "Only one way to find out! Why don't you ever fly below the clouds anyway?"

I don't like it. he mumbled simply. I was curious, but before I could squeeze any more information out of him, something else caught my attention. The hairs on my neck where all suddenly standing on end, causing chills to run down my spine. What was going on?

Then it hit me.

I mean that literally, it hit me. The feeling of being watched escalated and next I knew, I was certain that there was someone here. Right here, right next to me.

I jumped to my feet and whirled around. But there was nothing there! Somewhere between here and Skyloft I could see two people flying around, but otherwise I was totally alone. Nevertheless, my certainty was becoming sharper and more desperate by the second. It was almost like… It couldn't be that something was coming towards-

That was the moment I turned back around, facing Skyloft, and my vision exploded into a gust of golden diamonds.

I would have screamed, but he wasn't even facing me. Or she. To be honest, in the first moment I wasn't sure if he was male or female. I only saw the red cloak under which some very feminin legs with even more feminine tights stood. Even though he/she was facing the opposite way, it was like being hit in the face by a wall. A wall of might and power. I stood frozen to the spot. He hadn't seemed to have noticed me yet, so I decided to just keep my big mouth securely shut.

My bird, who had been standing in an angle, that he was staring right at him, gawked in surprise and took off right away, as if he was fleeing from him. Something I could totally understand.

The person chuckled and slowly began to lift his arms. Words spilled from his lips that where more hisses than syllables. It freaked me totally out, but at the same time it strangely… fascinated me. Energy, pure energy was being pulled out of our surroundings to collect before him, in his hands. Even though I couldn't see it, I could feel it.

Suddenly the "great master of winds" roared again, making me almost groan and clasp my ears shut. But even so I heard the next words the dangerous stranger before me said: "Bring her to me! Bring her to my master so that he shall rise again! Come now!"

My ears felt like they where about to burst. The shrieking only I seemed to be able to hear way growing fainter, but at the same time a new noise was sprouting.

My head snapped up to stare at the sky. It was darkening. A red gloom was spreading over it, reaching into the blue and wrestling it away mercilessly. And I could see a black hole opening up in the middle of the clouds. The two flying people (I finally recognized them to be Zelda and Link) where flying right towards it, even though they where trying to get away. Breathlessly I stared as a wave of power surged through me and made me tumble back. The wind was starting to pick up and swarm to the center of the black, massive tunnel until a whirlwind of shadows was formed in the middle of the sky. And it was sucking Link and Zelda right into it!

I stood helpless. Zelda's bird, weakened as it was, was being sucked into the winds, deeper and deeper by the heartbeat. Link flung himself forward, desperately grasping her hand and trying with all his might to pull her out of the deathly dangerous winds. He wasn't going to make it! He was being sucked in as well!

Help! the cry of his loftwing hit me like a brick wall, Medowlaria, help us!

Zelda's hand slipped.

Link was hoisted away into the sky, straight off his poor bird.

The sight of both of them falling finally woke me out of my shock. I screamed Links name and tore past that maniacal wind-mage or whatever he was, and flung myself over the ledge, whistling even before I jumped. My bird caught me not a second after my feet left the ground.

But before I got farther than a few feet, I turned my head to catch a glimpse of who had just done that to Zelda.

My heart froze midbeat. It was a man, judging his anatomy, but he was not Hylian. There was no way. Even though his ears where long and pointy and his appearance was similar, there was something else to him that excluded that possibility. Maybe his brown, make-upped eyes that looked like they could burn a hole into the sky without any other tricks. Maybe it was just this demonic aura.

And he was staring at me.

With a frightened yelp I gave my loftwing the spurs. But he didn't plan on attacking me. He smiled the most devilish smile I'd ever seen, snapped his fingers…

And was gone in a gust of golden triangles. The same moment the tornado dissolved into nothing and the red faded from the sky momentarily. It had done its job.

Speechless as I was, I did nothing but stare as my loftwing steered us to the falling Link, catching him in his claws long before he hit the clouds, and flew us to Skyloft.

Finally my brain seemed to turn on automatic. After we had landed amidst the professors who had gathered infront of the godess's statue, making space for us with wide eyes, I climbed off my birds back, gingerly stroking Links hair out of his face. He was okay, just unconscious. Shaking, I stood up and toppled towards the headmaster, who looked really upset: "What in the name of Hylia happened? What's going on here?"

"I…" I looked out into the sky again, fearing a little I might look into those dark eyes again, "I don't know. Please, take care of Link. A-and if h-he asks… I d-didn't save him, o-kay?

Towards the end of my sentence my words became more and more strained and broke. He didn't want me to stick my nose in other people's businesses? He didn't want me to "save" him?

Fine.

Stumbling, I somehow managed to crawl home, dodging the other people. Nobody seemed to have noticed the tornado at all. Exhausted I reached my own door. Mom was standing just inside, I could hear her yelling at Groose. Probably because of his cheating, but I was too tired to care. I opened the door quietly, walking into just the predicted scene.

"…and now you have to wait another year if you want to graduate! What is this with your irresponsible, ego-driven, stupid…" she stopped mid-tracks and turned to vent more of her frustration on me, " "And YOU! Where on earth where you? We had agreed that we would go talk to Gondo about your apprenticeship after the tournament and you where gone!"

I could have told her, that she obviously had forgotten to mention that to me (I mean, not that it mattered, I would have been off anyway) but I felt so drained. It didn't make sense, but out of whatever reason, my whole body was so tired and I just wanted to sleep.

"Med? Where do you think you're…" before she could speak to the end, I had walked past them and was in my room. She stopped talking right away. I know, I'm an asshole and a bitch most of the time. But I didn't just totally ignore her unless I was really upset. She kindly shut up and decided to continue venting on Groose.

Tears where rolling down my cheeks. Link almost died. What if I hadn't caught him? And Zelda! She… she was gone. That horrible storm had ripped her out of the sky.

I didn't fear for her life though. That… man had mentioned that he needed her. And I somehow just knew, that he needed her alive. For now.

Those eyes…

A choking whimper escaped my throat. He really scared me. I was so afraid.

Funny. I couldn't recall when I'd last been really afraid. Yes, I'd been nervous, yes, I'd broken a sweat when my bird had made those insane stunts. But now?

I was fearing for my life. Without any real reason.

Shaking I lied down on my bed curling up like a baby. I wished my bird was here. I wanted to snuggle against his broad feathers and sleep in his wings, like I had so often when I'd just gotten him. We'd sometimes snuck away, flying so far out, that we got stranded at night. Before I'd figured out how to fly even at night, we'd just curl up, me beneath his wing, and sleep.

I'm lost… Please, please come to me… I thought, shaking and shivering. But even though it was just past midday, sleep crept into my eyes, making my eyelids heavy until they fluttered closed, drowning my fear and worries.

For the moment.