Zelda Skyward Sword Ch 3

Chapter 3: The Wing Ceremony

"Ethan really is amazing," Zelda said as she and Link touched down at the plaza. "Especially considering everything the poor bird has been though this morning. I'm going to fly back and tell Father what happened."

She skipped off and dove back into the sky, Chloe right there to catch her.

As Link watched her form get smaller and smaller, a boastful voice was heard.

"Well, well, if it isn't Link!"

Link whipped around. It was Groose, arms crossed, backed up as usual by Calwin and Stritch.

"Word around the plaza is you found that dumb bird of yours," Groose said. "Well, that's just great. Because you and your stupid bird can't tell time, all the prerace warm-ups me and the guys did were for nothin'. Now I'm all stiff." He ran his hands over his oily hair, as if it wasn't already stiff enough.

"We've been waiting forever for the race to start, and they delay it for you?" He shook his head. "I don't get it. The big flake gets special treatment?"

His lighthearted teasing suddenly changed to anger. "You're almost a man, and yet you still can't seem to go anywhere without Zelda," he snarled, balling up his fists. "I bet you can't even decide what to have for lunch on your own, huh?"

Here we go again, Link thought. He could never understand why Groose always brought this up lately. This whole thing with Zelda was getting way out of hand between them. Link knew he was wrong. He didn't go everywhere with Zelda, just… most places. But it was her choice. She wanted to be with him all the time. And he was perfectly all right with that.

"And don't think we haven't noticed the smug looks," Groose continued, fuming. "'Ooh, Zelda and I are best friends. We go everywhere together.' Ugh!"

He stopped for a moment, his eyes boring holes in Link's face. "…You think you're pretty suave, don't you?" His face was turning a light red. "Well? DON'T YOU?!"

Groose's backup was quietly talking behind him while he vented.

"Groose has been going on forever about how he's gonna be the one to be with Zelda," Cawlin whispered.

"He's really got his pompadour in a ruffle about her!" Stritch snickered.

Groose either didn't hear them or chose to ignore them. "I hate to break it to you, Link, but today's the day I bust up this adorable little fantasyland you're living in. Zelda's playing the role of the goddess at today's ceremony, and I'm gonna be the one to claim that Sailcloth. When I heard she made it herself, man, no way I was gonna let some scrawny clown snatch that prize from me."

Link was confused. Sailcloth? What was that? Then he remembered: at the ceremony, the person representing the goddess gives a special gift to the winner of the race. This Sailcloth must be the gift that Zelda was going to give to the champion.

Groose was now completely ignoring Link, lost in his own thoughts. "Oh yes, that Sailcloth – Zelda's Sailcloth – will be mine!" He had turned around, muttering to himself in between fits of muffled giggles. "Oh, man, I bet she was thinking about me when she was stitching it…"

He let out a big sigh, nodding his head. "Yup, I can see it now. First, I win the big race, and then Zelda and I finish the ceremony together on the statue. Just the two of us…" His cheeks were a bright red color by now. "It'll be our special moment alone. Nobody is stopping me and Zelda from having our moment. Oh, it's so real I can… I can see it…"

Link was getting a little weirded out by this point. What would Zelda have to say about this? He didn't have to wait long for the answer.

"Groose! Pssst, Groose!" Cawlin whispered frantically, as if not to disturb him.

"Behind you! Right behind you!" Stritch added, waving his skinny arms.

Groose's head whipped up. "WHAT?! Can't you two see I'm in the middle of –"

They continued pointing behind him, and he finally turned around. "GAH!"

"Care to explain just what you meant by 'our special moment alone'?" Zelda asked angrily, hands on her hips.

Link couldn't help smirking as he watched Groose falter and stutter to get words out.

"I… uh, nothing big, really. Just… Just…" Groose looked at Link. "Link! Yeah, I was just telling my buddy here how glad I was he found that red bird of his. Boy, am I looking forward to a fair race!"

Link's cheeks burned with anger. Filthy liar.

Groose turned back to Zelda, the smug look he always wore back on his face. "Anyhow, later, Zelda. Look for me during the race. I'll be the one pulling off all the dangerous moves."

He strutted away, Cawlin and Stritch calling after him to wait up.

Zelda shook her head, looking at Link. "Did you hear that guy? A fair race? Yeah, the chances of that happening are just about less than zero."

Link knew she was right. Groose was bound to have plenty of tricks up his sleeve to make him fall off Ethan before the race was over. He would need to be prepared.

"Either way, don't let those fools get you down, Link!" Zelda said enthusiastically. "Just get out there and fly the best you can! I know you've got these guys beat, and deep down I think you do too."

Link's cheeks flushed. Zelda always knew just what to say to lift his spirits.

A voice called from behind them. "The Wing Ceremony will now begin! Participating students, please assemble!"


Link stood in a line with about a dozen other students at the academy, including Groose, Cawlin, and Stritch. A small crowd was gathered on the plaza, whispering excitedly to each other about who they thought would win. Birds flew overhead, leaving colorful streaks behind them.

Horwell cleared his throat. "Your attention, please. At last we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony." He stood beside Gaepora, and beside him was a bright yellow bird, much smaller than your average Loftwing.

The crowd became quiet, and those standing in line, including Link, looked intently to Horwell. "I'm glad you could all make it. Before we start, I'll explain the rules for today's competition."

He gestured to the yellow bird. "I have attached a small statuette to this bird, who I will release to the skies." The bird ruffled its feathers, the small wooden statue clunking softly against its neck.

"Whoever catches the bird and claims the statuette will be this year's champion," Horwell continued. "As you know, today's champion will graduate to the next class, bringing him one step closer to knighthood. He will also receive a gift from the young woman chosen to play the role of the goddess in this year's ritual. And as you all well know, the role of the goddess this year will be performed by the lovely Zelda!"

Zelda smiled and curtsied, the crowd clapping, with Groose giggling softly to himself.

"Let's see your finest flying out there," Horwell said to the students after the clapping died down. "Show me just how hard you've been practicing. Also, I want to see good, clean flying. Anyone caught interfering with other riders will answer to me!"

"That goes double for you, Groose!" Gaepora snapped, and Groose flinched. Link couldn't help smiling to himself.

With a small whistle from Horwell, the yellow bird took off. "All right everybody. At my command, the competition will begin!"

Link looked to the bridge, ready to run. He could do this. He could win. He had to, or else Zelda would be disappointed. And possibly be fated to do the ritual alone with Groose. He couldn't let that happen.

"GO!"

The crowd cheered, and Link ran as fast as he could to the edge of the bridge, jumping off along with everyone else. A chorus of whistles was heard, and the sky filled with Loftwings of all colors.

Ethan appeared underneath Link, more tense than usual he decided. It was as if the bird knew how important this particular flight was.

Link scanned the sky. He saw a flash of yellow, and flew towards it, right behind several other people, led by Groose. Link narrowed his eyes. He had to win. He had to.

Although he may not have acted like it, Link was very good at flying. He understood the equation height plus dive equals speed, as they had been taught in flight school. He eased Ethan up, high above the others, who were all trying to pass each other to get closer to the small bird. Link knew that speed didn't work that way. Up there, there was way too much air resistance, and Loftwings just didn't fly fast enough to equal the force of it. That's where the equation came in.

He forced Ethan into a dive straight down. Ethan folded his wings in, helping to gain speed. They were gaining on the bird, far ahead of the others. He could hear the excited shouts of the crowd far below them.

He stretched out his arm, now right behind the bird. Just a quick reach and he would have it…

"Hey! Don't you know this is my day to get all the glory?" Groose shouted from behind him on his Amethyst Loftwing.

He kicked his bird in the side, something that was forbidden to do. It screeched unhappily and shot forward, straight into Ethan, who screeched back, floundering in midair. Link held on as they sank below the bird, Groose laughing and sneering at them.

"Yeah, you heard him!" Cawlin called from atop his Tawny Loftwing. "Let's see how you fly with egg on your face!"

He produced a large spotted egg, and promptly threw it in Link's direction. He dodged it all right, but more were on the way. Groose and Stritch joined in, laughing.

He could never understand why Groose had to be this way. But he didn't have time to think about that at the moment. He urged Ethan upwards. He would have to be quick to grab the statue, as Groose was getting dangerously close to it.

As they flew up, an egg hit Ethan in the tail. He screeched, flapping his wings hard. Link held on tight, trying to keep his balance. He pushed Ethan downwards. They weren't as high as he'd wanted to be, but this was his only chance. Groose was reaching out for the statue, the gleam of triumph in his eyes.

Somehow, Ethan knew. He tossed his head to the side and shot down, clean through the narrow space in between Groose and the bird. As they zoomed by, Link snatched at the statue. As Ethan leveled out, Link was firmly grasping the small wooden carving of a Loftwing. He had won the race.

He held it high, laughing. He was so relieved. He could hear the cheers from the crowd far below.

"Link!"

He looked up to see Zelda, who had jumped from the bridge, plummeting towards him. He readied his arms and caught her, which sent them downwards in a flurry of feathers. Ethan cried out, but he was all right.

He sat her up, worried if she was okay. She looked up, laughing.

"Don't worry – I'm fine!" She smiled. "Great flying, Link! Congratulations!"

Link smiled back. This was so perfect.

"Now we'd better get on with the ceremony!" Zelda said happily.

They flew towards the Statue of the Goddess, Chloe calling cheerfully behind them.