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At about noon, according to what the Chain had discussed before splitting up, the trio gathered at the edge of town to wait for the others to return from their misadventures. 

Hyrule and Wild came scrambling towards them first, covered in dirt and swearing up and down that they'd seen moving, living bushes in the woods. Legend, following close behind with a much cleaner tunic and a smirk, refused to elaborate.

Time of all people ended up proving them right when he appeared with one of the skittish, very real creatures clinging to his head like a lopsided, leafy hat.

Is that a mammal or bird underneath that plant tail? Four marveled, failing to make sense of the odd specimen.

Wild snapped a photo for "scientific evidence only." Fortunately for the champion, Time was too busy trying to dissuade Twilight from taking the plant creature home to tell Wild to delete the picture.

Four chuckled to himself as his team descended into chaos, deciding to turn his attention back to the young settlement around him. It felt surreal, experiencing history in this way. Everything was so familiar and foreign all at once here. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale, but so much more... alive. Through the hustle and bustle of the young folk and their work, there was a buzzing excitement, a windswept thrill at being a part of a project so new. Four understood the feeling.

This was the birth of his homeland. Many, MANY generations before him, or course, but it was a privilege to witness all the same.

Last to rejoin the motley crew of heroes were Sky and Zelda, strolling towards them with their hands entwined. To Four's relief, they looked incredibly at ease, the light in their eyes shining much brighter than it had when the dangers of the Triforce were being discussed.

Four felt a pang of guilt at that. Like Wild, he'd never really encountered the real Triforce, just seen it in storybooks or on his shield. Though he knew it was powerful, and dangerous to leave unguarded, the cloudy, suffocating heaviness that had dragged down the Skyloftians as they'd spoken about the relic had been heartbreaking.

That weight was eased now, and as Sky and Zelda greeted the group, their combined life force seemed to shine in tune with the magic of the land itself. I suppose being with the one you love most will do that, Four smiled wistfully.

"I had a feeling you'd all be here," Zelda smiled warmly. She nudged Sky. "We have a surprise for you."

"Not another earth-shattering revelation, I hope?" said Hyrule, flashing a slightly nervous grin.

"No," Sky said gently. "At least I hope not. We want to take you to Skyloft."

Four thought his brain must have stalled for a moment. "Skyloft?" he squeaked, embarrassed by the childlike emotion in his voice. "The Skyloft?"

"Well, you didn't think we'd visit my era and be stuck on the Surface the whole time, did you?" Sky teased, tilting his head with a knowing smile.

Four's face flushed as his words jammed in his throat, several different replies coming to mind all at once and gumming up his brain.

Thankfully, the captain came to his rescue. "And just how do you propose we all get there?" Warriors asked.

"The Groosenator?!? Wind guessed with far too much excitement.

Zelda laughed as Sky made a mildly terrified noise, and she quickly shook her head. "No no no, we have a much... gentler approach in mind. It's how we've been transporting large groups of goods and people between the Surface and the sky all these years."

As if on cue, the clanking of wooden gears broke through the clouds above them. With inexplicable grace, a great wooden platform descended towards the ground, supported by two enormous, sturdy propellers. A large bell swayed gently from below the structure, prompting the gathered Hylians to scramble back to witness the descent of the beautifully odd contraption.

"What is that?" Twilight asked.

Sky smirked. "I believe a few of you have mentioned a merchant by the reputable family name of 'Beedle'?"

Wind's eyes went wide. "No way."

"Yours can fly?!?" Wild shouted.

"Yours can't?" Sky grinned. 

The structure lowered enough for the Links to see a warmly colored hut built onto the top of the platform. A large deck and wooden railing extended from it at all sides, offering plenty of space for passengers to stand. With far more grace than Four had expected, it finally settled onto a boarding platform in the grassy clearing, its spinning propellers coming to a gentle halt.

Four stared in disbelief. Disbelief at the familiar merchant's name, disbelief at this... contraption that had descended from the heavens, but most of all, disbelief that he wasn't dreaming when Sky motioned for them to hop aboard and visit his birthplace in the sky. 

Not the Cloud Tops, nor the Tower or even Palace of Winds. 

Skyloft.

Hylia's risen land itself. 

Four barely dared to breathe as he scrambled to catch up with the other heroes boarding the floating shop.

"Heeeyyy, Beedle!" Sky called through the open doorway of the hut. "Got a few passengers for you!"

"OH!" came a shockingly familiar call. "Welcome back, Link! And did you say you brought customers? Come in! Come in!" 

Four poked his head into the shop and felt his jaw fall open. The lean man behind the counter bore an uncanny resemblance to the merchant of the same name from Four's era. There were a few small differences here and there, but the similarity was baffling, even for a family ancestor.

Beedle genes must run strong, Four thought with wonder.

This era's Beedle had just been perched on some sort of foot-peddled device. Gingerly, the man had dismounted, squatting and stretching his legs with a huff. He pulled out a green potion that Four recognized as a stamina potion, and on further inspection, Four noticed that the man was covered in sweat.

"Have you been... powering this entire building yourself?" the smithy asked in disbelief.

A few other Links who had also crowded the doorway made several awed and confused noises behind him.

Beedle finished the potion and gave them an eager salute. "Of COURSE! There's no other shop that takes its wears to you, is there? And no better way to do so than some good ol' fashioned elbow grease. Isn't that right, ol' bug?"

It took a moment to realize he was speaking to Sky. Skyloftian phrasing, maybe? Four noted in his head. Or is it just Beedle? How odd... The smith blinked. Wow. I really am a nerd. Four thanked every goddess above that Sky couldn't read his mind.

"Beedle here works as hard as anyone. He's even made a lot of modifications to his shop lately, to help the settlement efforts," Sky gestured around the item-filled room. "It used to be a lot smaller."

"But now, we sport a new and improved, gen-u-ine layout, complete with a beautiful wrap-around deck, plenty of storage, and even more items from the wonders of the Surface itself!" Beedle spread his hands and hopped back onto the machine behind the counter. "Free trips to Skyloft for non-flyers, but take a look at the wares, mates. Every rupee counts."

Wind, Wild, and Hyrule took that as a personal invitation to browse, but Four was still stuck on the peddle machine. He pointed it out. "And you control the whole shop with that wee thing there?"

"Ah-ha! Yes indeed, it's all in the mechanics, fledgling! New breakthroughs seem to be brought about every day by discoveries down here! I now peddle her with twice the ease, and twice the power!!!" Beedle grinned and triumphantly shook his fist.

Sky leaned over to Four on his way back out the door. "Beedle, Groose, and Gondo have a sort of 'innovators guild' going on," he explained. "They come up with some cool stuff, you'd like it."

Four grinned at the prospect. "That sounds grand."

Beedle rolled his shoulders, doing one final stretch before clapping his hands. "Ready for lift off, then?"

Four looked back to see Sky gently removing the trembling bush creature from Time's head, speaking softly to it, and setting it in the grass to scamper off into the trees. Twilight pouted as it went.

Now free of his burden, Time did a headcount, and nodded to Sky and the merchant. "All accounted for. We're ready."

"EXCELLENT!" Beedle cheered. "And AWAY WE GO!"

Eight Links scrambled for a handhold as the air shop whirred into motion. The floorboards rumbled as the overhead propellers began to spin, faster and faster, until the platform they stood upon began to rise back into the air.

Sky and Zelda, having grabbed onto the railing and each other before the launch, smiled at their guests with knowing expressions. 

Four scrunched his nose at the knight teasingly. Show off.

The higher they went, the more their view was obstructed by the mist of clouds. The ground was getting harder to make out, their destination even more so. 

They'd reached the Cloud Barrier.

Likely noticing just how high up they were, Hyrule pressed his back to the wall of the central hut, sliding down to sit on the floor with a gulp. Time sat beside him casually.

"Not a fan of heights?" their leader asked softly.

"Can't say I'm the biggest fan, no," said Hyrule, his smile thin.

"If it helps," Four said from his place against the rail, "from the stories I heard, Skyloft is just as sturdy as the land we were born on."

"That... may be true," Hyrule shrugged, but didn't quite look convinced. "It's still a long way up... and I miss the ground..."

Time patted the traveler's shoulder. "Courage comes in many forms. You're doing fine."

Hyrule seemed more at ease after hearing that, even as he continued to watch the mist around him with distrust.

"So, what do you think Skyloft really looks like, then? Since someone somewhere refuses to tell us the details." Legend scowled playfully at Sky, who simply tapped his own nose and kept his mouth shut. Zelda laughed silently beside him.

Four shrugged. "Ah... a floating piece of land with a settlement, I suppose?"

"Well yeah, Sky's said at least that much," Legend shook his head. "What I want to know is how it floats."

"Octo balloons? Or maybe a really strong hurricane?" Wind suggested, leaning halfway over the railing. Warriors made a quiet yelp and pulled the sailor back.

"The one time I visited a sky settlement, the creatures that lived there had giant propellers on the bottoms of their floating buildings," Twilight hummed, tapping his fingers on the rail. "Could that be it?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Rancher," said Four. "The sky places I've been to were either magic clouds and platforms atop the Cloud Barrier itself, or a tower that just sort of... hung there, all on its own. But Skyloft is supposed to be higher up than even those."

"Great," huffed Hyrule.

Wild also looked very put-out, but for a different reason entirely. 

"Ugh," groaned the champion. "I wish my era had sky islands. This is just unfair!" 

Twilight shuddered. "Why do I get the feeling you'd go skydiving off the highest one the first chance you got?"

"Because I would and it would be awesome!"

In the corner of his eye, Four saw Sky and Zelda lock eyes. Warm amusement colored their faces in mirth, and Four smiled, looking away to give them privacy. 

His own daydreams conjured up a small memory of strawberry blonde hair tied back in a pretty bow.

Almost immediately, Four was jerked from his romantic distractions as the air shop shuddered beneath him. Something in the mechanism clicked, and a smaller propeller on the side of the air shop began to spin, moving the platform laterally instead of simply up into the air.

All at once, the sky lightened into gold.

With a feeling like breaking the surface of the sea, the air shop cut through the final layer of the Cloud Barrier into the upper sky. The atmosphere was bathed in warmth from a sun just past noon, coloring the billowing clouds in all shades of pink, yellow, and blue. And the sky itself—Four had never seen it so blue. Even his own trips above Hyrule had lacked the undercurrent of rich color and light that permeated every inch of this sky. 

Four laughed, the icy taste of thin air making him extra giddy. Even now he could see small dots of floating islands in the distance. There was no doubt in his mind: this was too real to be a dream. He was going to see Skyloft.

Wind cheered and whooped beside him, the sun turning his wavy hair blindingly yellow. His face was fixed in a huge grin as he ran across the shop's deck, taking in the sky as quickly and energetically as possible. 

"It's like the GREAT SEA!!!" laughed the sailor.

Wild ran alongside him, just as awed by the view. Four wondered for a moment if they'd both snuck some of Beedle’s stamina potion, but he quickly banished the thought at the sight of the rest of his team.

Warriors had a rare, childlike smile on his face as he stuck his hand out to graze a nearby golden cloud. Legend spun in circles with a lopsided grin, head faced skyward. Twilight caught the vet by the shoulders when Legend made himself dizzy, laughing with the younger hero as Legend untangled himself from the rancher. Even Hyrule stood as if in a daze, breathing in the soaring feeling of magic and natural wonder with Time just behind him, doing the same.

"I have to admit," Warriors breathed out an awed laugh, "this has far exceeded my expectations, Sky."

"You haven't seen anything yet," said the Chosen Hero. He looked positively full of life, watching his brothers with the sparkling eyes of a man proud of his homeland. 

Zelda looked just as radiant beside him. "Yeah! Wait until you see—"

She paused mid-sentence. Sky and Zelda froze at the same time, ears pricked as if listening for something far away. An odd expression crossed their faces, not unlike the one that Zelda wore when she spoke the words of Hylia. But when the two of them locked eyes again, their chests lifting with anticipation and excitement, Four knew this was about something else entirely. 

Sky became teary-eyed by whatever realization had just crossed between him and his fiancée. They leaned together in a quick, hushed conversation, took one last glance at the clouds, then hurried to the part of the air shop's deck that was missing a railing.

In tandem, they turned back to the other heroes, twining their hands together.

"Sky? What's going on?" Time asked.

The Chosen Hero's eyes twinkled. He wore that poorly disguised grin that always came before one of his cheeky comments, and tilted his head. "Keep an eye on everyone, Old Man," he winked.

"We'll meet you on Skyloft."

Then Sky and Zelda jumped.

For a second that felt like an hour, the heroes were stunned into silence. The space where the couple had just been standing was now empty air, choked confusion and hollow wind the only sounds to be heard in the vastness of the upper sky. Four's heart began to pound as he grasped, scrambled for any logical explanation for what he had just witnessed, because surely, surely he had not just seen the start of the entire royal family line just jump off the side of a—

SSSSHHREEEEEEE!

Crimson and indigo blurs shot into the sky on a gust of wind. Feathers bloomed in the light as two giant birds unfurled their great wings, stretching their curved beaks in ear-splitting cries of joy. 

Atop their backs, looking more alive than they'd ever been, Sky and Zelda whooped and hollered with just as much gusto as their birds.

These, then, were Loftwings.

Four's breath left him as the birds spun tight corkscrews in the air, sweeping their riders even higher into the clouds. With the grace of songbirds and power of eagles, the great beasts looped and swirled, painting the clouds with the vibrant colors of their plumage. 

Soaring to a point high above the little air shop, the birds stalled, flipped, and tumbled into a playful dive. Several heroes cried out as the Skyloftians gleefully dove off their birds, free falling through the air like they were born with wings of their own. Sky and Zelda even grasped hands, pulling each other in and out, and spinning as if they were dancing. Their wide smiles must have been filled with laughter, but their voices were lost to the rush of the fall.

Air buffered Four's face and blew back his hair as the birds and Skyloftians sped past the platform once more. The smithy raced to the rail to catch a glimpse of where they'd gone, and didn't have to wait long before someone behind him gasped.

Turning around, he was shocked to see Zelda standing on her Loftwing, her hair flowing like feathers as she balanced with years of practiced ease. She caught them staring and waved, doing a quick spin and giving them all heart attacks. No sooner had she settled back onto her bird in what Four presumed was the normal position did another rush of wind hit him from behind.

The powerful wings of Sky's magnificent bird flapped and soared to the rhythm of the air shop's propellers. When Four finally tore his eyes away from the beast, he was taken aback by the freedom written all over Sky's face.

The Chosen Hero sat with his arms flung wide, eyes shut tightly and mouth open in a huge, permanent smile. His chest rose like he couldn't contain the emotions inside it, so instead, he released them to the air, belting out an enormous cry of elation. His long, whooping yell was echoed by his Crimson, who danced his talons through the air like a prancing horse.

Sky's hands tightened to fists. He looked so... free, Four realized. The young smith was no longer looking upon the great hero of his myths and fairy tales. Here was a young man, barely out of his boyhood, who's greatest joys were his loved ones and the feeling of the wind blowing through his feathery hair. Here, in the upper sky, he was Link, of Skyloft. A man brought to pinprick tears by flying on his Loftwing again.

He was just Link. And he was home.

And Four knew exactly what a wondrous feeling that was.

A shadow passed overhead. Four and the others glanced up to see Zelda guide her bird over the air shop and above Sky. She hovered there for only a moment before slipping off her bird and right into Sky's arms. He grunted, and Crimson squawked a complaint at the sudden weight, but Sky fell into lovesick laughter just as quickly, and drew his beloved tightly to his chest. Zelda's Loftwing made a noise that almost sounded like laughter, too.

Like leaves on a gentle breeze, the Loftwings and Skyloftians began to drift away from the platform, losing themselves in their reunion. Four smirked as Sky and Zelda began to share an especially tender kiss.

"When I catch that boy..." Twilight said shakily.

Warriors's laugh was slightly hysterical as he pulled his fingers through his hair. "Of course. Now it makes sense why he tried to jump the horse."

Four snorted out a laugh he couldn't keep contained. It did make sense. To Sky, horses must have seemed like four-legged Loftwings, at least until he'd eaten dirt by falling off Epona.

"Jealous... so jealous..." Wild mumbled quietly.

Wind watched the birds in stunned silence from behind the champion's back.

"You know what, Wild?" said Legend, leaning on the railing. "I’ll admit it. I’m jealous too, actually."

"It's why they're not afraid to fall," Hyrule realized. He held on to Time a bit more loosely than before. "They know their birds will catch them if they do. That's... wow."

"Inspiring is the word you're looking for, I believe," Time said, watching the Skyloftians soar. His eye, which had been so grey and troubled before, now held a soft and subtle fondness.

Four wondered if he was thinking of Malon.

Link and Zelda, childhood friends... the smithy quickly turned his face away to hide his small blush from the others.

He really, really missed his own princess.

Trying to distract himself by finding any clouds that didn't remind him of bows, crowns, or hearts, Four caught a glimpse of something else in the sky. 

"Hey, look!" he shouted, pointing into the clouds ahead.

The heroes rushed to the railing beside him. As if by magic, a large cloud that had been hanging in the air shop's path began to disperse. Like a curtain being drawn away to reveal a stage, the cloud parted, and the heroes gasped.

A flock of Loftwings lifted into the air, dressed in all the colors under the sun. Just beyond the parade of feathers, an impossible island hung in mid-air, and atop its colorful stone and foliage sprawled the beautiful town known as Skyloft.

Four exhaled in delight to find it a quaint, familiar place, all the earthy buildings looking closer to the ones he'd known back home, rather than some collection of strange and ancient ruins. It was awash in light and surprisingly lively, with several Skyloftians still bustling about their day on the isle of their homeland. The smithy nodded to himself. Really, it was foolish to have expected anything else. This place felt exactly like Sky.

The nearby caw of a Loftwing drew his gaze upward. Three new birds had appeared in the air above him, all dressed in goggles that matched the Skyloftian knights atop their backs. The riders waved, one even shouting a greeting to Sky and Zelda, before falling into formation to the left, right, and just behind the air shop. 

Wind had gone a little pale, but Four appreciated the riders’ gesture. It was like Hyrule had surmised. The birds would catch anyone should he be foolish enough to jump.

Good news for Wild, Four thought, grinning at the way Twilight watched the champion like a hawk.

It wasn't very long before the air shop descended again, making its way to a large, cobblestone clearing nearby a large tower and what seemed to be a Skyloftian bazaar. The shop paused about ten feet above the ground.

Wooden gears clunked again as a rope was lowered the rest of the way down. 

"Hurry along down the rope, bugs!" called Beedle from within the hut. "I've got some other errands to run and you're all beginning to get QUITE heavy!"

"O-of course," Time called back, ushering the rest of them off the platform. "Thank you for the lift."

"And the spare adventure pouch!" added Hyrule.

"And the bug net!" Wild chorused.

"And the extra wallet!" Wind laughed.

"How much did you all buy?" Warriors murmured as he shook his head. His question went completely ignored.

"THANK YOU!" Beedle cheered as they slipped down the rope. "Pleasure doing business with you. Come again, bugs!"

When the last of their crew had his feet firmly set on Skyloft, Beedle’s peculiar shop rattled and lifted away like a dandelion seed in the wind. 

"We're actually on a floating island," the sailor said after a moment, voice quivering in awe. "A real, floating island!"

Wild jumped up and down. "Solid ground, too. No bounce or tilt—that's amazing!"

"And reassuring," Hyrule grinned shakily.

Legend patted his shoulder. "Aww, chin up, Traveler. You'll find something fun to do here." 

"And we won't have to worry about you wandering off the island," Time smirked.

Twilight shook his head good-naturedly, gazing out at the island around them. "Somehow he and Wild would find a way."

"Air's a bit thin, though, isn't it?" said Warriors, adjusting his scarf around his neck. "That could be a problem for us in the long run."

"Doesn't make this place any less beautiful," Four whispered, too enraptured by the site of the town to mind his shallower breaths.

Paper pinwheels shaped like pastel flowers spun playfully above the heroes, each decoration done up on long strings that trailed over to a magnificent bazaar. The building was quite the sight, made up of colorful striped stones and topped with flapping pink drapery. The sky trees, the impossible waterfall that slipped off the island but never went dry, and the impressive, elegant stone tower that stood beside them to welcome new arrivals… taking it all in at once felt like visiting a dream. Even the colorful homes built directly into the ground, complete with grassy, curved roofs, were hard to tear one’s eye from.

That is, until Four heard a shout.

Four glanced up just in time to watch Sky leap off his bird right above them. However, instead of diving with him, Crimson flew off into another circle. At that speed, that angle—the bird would never catch him in time!

Four's cry was drowned out by the cacophony of other shouts from his team, Sky hurtling closer and closer to the hard, cold cobblestones every second. Twenty, fifteen, ten feet, and then—!

Woosh!

Four grasped his heart in relief. He'd completely forgotten about the sailcloth.

Grinning like he hadn't just administered eight separate heart attacks, Sky drifted gently downward, holding tightly to the cream and blue sail that had caught the air to slow his fall. He landed in the center of the cobblestone clearing and was immediately tackled by Wild.

"That was AWESOME, Sky!!!!" cheered the champion, grabbing his shoulders.

Sky laughed as he was shaken back and forth. "Thanks, thanks! Just a typical Loftwing stunt."

"When do I get to try?" Wild grinned.

Sky balked. "H-huh?"

"C'mon, I can handle it! I paraglide! I've ridden beasts no one's dared to tame back in my Hyrule! Let me ride a Loftwing!"

 Sky laughed and held up his hands. "Hang on, hang on Wild, that's not—You can't just ride a Loftwing with no experience!"

"But you rode a horse!"

"Yeah! But horses and Loftwings aren't..." For the briefest moment, something somber passed Sky's face before the Skyloftian covered it with a smile. "Horses can sense your touch and some of your emotions. Loftwings sense you. All of you, wherever you are, and vice versa, but only if you're the chosen rider. Without that connection, it's much harder to communicate with one, and if you fell? If your borrowed Loftwing couldn't sense you because you’re not its true rider?" Sky shivered. 

"So...?" Wild bit his lip, still hopeful.

"So, uh, no riding lessons today I'm afraid," said Sky.

"Rrrrr," Wild turned in a circle. "Unfair! Unfair, I'm still jealous and this is unfair!"

Warriors blew out a sharp breath. "You're going to give Twilight and me grey hairs, Chosen Hero! And you too, Wild."

"Sorry?" Sky shrugged, not sorry in the slightest.

"What about Time's hair?" Four asked, glancing at the way the older night scanned Sky for injury.

"His hair's already grey."

Time cuffed Warriors in the head. The captain laughed.

The flapping of great wings signaled the arrival of Zelda and her Loftwing above them. The pair landed much more gracefully than Sky, the indigo bird touching her talons down lightly atop the cobblestone. Zelda slipped off her mount with ease. 

"Nice dive, sweetie!" she said, skipping up to her fiancé.

Four almost snorted as he watched Sky puff out his chest like a proud cucco rooster. "Glad to hear it meets your standards, love," the knight grinned, drawing her in and planting a lingering kiss on her cheek.

"Ugh," Legend groaned with his head in his hands. "If they keep flirting I think I'll die."

Hyrule elbowed him and murmured something Four didn't catch about the royal family and "your princess". Legend went pink and shoved him.

An enormous, shrill cry suddenly shook the sky as a rush of crimson swooped at the huddle of heroes. Sky's bird shrieked, sharp talons and beak spread wide as he careened towards the ground, not bothering to slow himself down as the monster-sized bird roughly hit the stone and started to run. The heroes stepped out of his way in a hurry.

Wind in particular grasped onto Four's arm like he'd die if he let go. Four's heart bled when he saw the deep terror—deep memories—in the sailor's eyes. He covered Wind's hand in his own.

Sky, meanwhile, was completely bowled over in a burst of excited feathers.

"AGH, CRIMSON, HEY, HEH-HEH-HEY, WATCH IT, BUDDY!"

Sky lost himself to a fit of childish laughter as his bird nuzzled him, nearly being thrown into the air with the force of the giant, shoe-shaped beak. Sky ran, delighted as his bird gave chase, and practically skipped like a deer as he dodged and slipped away from the aggressive affection of his feathery half. Crimson, however, was not to be outdone. The bird leapt into the air and grabbed Sky's arms, lifting him like a child playing with a toy. Sky wheeled his legs uselessly in the air.

"Crimsoooooooon!" Sky yelled in delight. "Let me down boy, you caught me, you win! Hahahahaha!"

Pleased to have won their odd little game, the bird set Sky down incredibly gently. Crimson alighted on the stones, and just as Sky had skipped before, the bird pranced, hopping like a newborn foal towards his beloved rider. Reverently, the bird and Sky dipped their heads together.

Crimson let out a tiny, crooning noise, something between a hawk's cry and a whisper, and pressed his face lovingly against Sky's chest. Sky's laughter turned a bit teary at the gesture, and he hugged Crimson's head tightly, burying his face in the crown of plumage atop the bird's head.

"I missed you, buddy," came Sky's muffled, watery voice. "I-I missed you so much."

Zelda watched them with a bittersweet smile, nuzzling against her own Loftwing when the indigo bird draped her beak over Zelda's shoulder.

Twilight let out a long, deep sigh. "All right, Sky. You win." His eyes twinkled. "I think I understand the crazy behavior now."

Sky laughed wetly, still clinging to Crimson. "Sorry if I scared you, Rancher."

"Nah," Twilight waved his hand. "If anything, I think you proved you can handle yourself."

"That's a magnificent bird, that is," murmured Four, feeling his feet drift closer all on their own as he studied the creature.

To his dismay, Wind released him as soon as he moved, silently stepping back and wedging himself between Time and Twilight. The older heroes shared a look of worry, but huddled closer to the sailor all the same.

"He is pretty great," Sky agreed, still wrapped around his bird. "Just don't tell him that, he'll get a big head—OOF!"

Sky giggled as Crimson shoved him. The bird then cawed in protest, and began rapidly nibbling on Sky's hair.

"Ah. And here we go, with the preening." Sky looked at Time, arching a brow. "Told you they do this."

Time surprised everyone with a deep, bouncing laugh. "I can see that now, yes. You have a way with large beasts, Sky." 

Sky smiled softly at their leader, an olive branch seeming to pass between them. Sky buried his face in Crimson's feathers again.

Warriors smirked. "I can't help but wonder how he and Epona would get along."

"Maybe we can summon her and find out!" said Hyrule, already reaching for his recorder.

Twilight shot out his hand to stop him. "Ah, no, thanks. I'd like to keep my horse cozy in a stable and not stuck on a sky island, magic or no magic."

Four held back a laugh at Hyrule's small "Aww", but his joy fell away when he noticed the sailor. 

Something in Time's laugh must have shaken Wind to his senses, because when Four glanced at him, the sailor's face was set in a firm, determined scowl.

Wind stepped forward, inch by inch, his fists shaking at his sides. This time, Sky noticed his distress.

"Sailor?" Sky asked.

The boy gulped like he was trying to swallow all his fear at once, and he plastered a brave smile on his face. "N-no... I-I-I can do it... it's... just like the horse. Just like Epona. I can do it. I-"

The Loftwing shifted, and Wind froze, his pinched brow faltering as another wave of fear took hold. His hand twitched, as if itching for his Phantom Blade.

Warriors stepped closer to him. "What's wrong, Wind?"

Wind's breath shuddered as he tried to regain his composure.

"It looks like a kargarok."

A wave of understanding and empathy rippled through the heroes, and Sky whispered an explanation to a worried Zelda.

Of course, Four thought, kicking himself for not remembering sooner. A kargarok once took away his little sister.

Wind scowled at what he must have seen as pity. "It's stupid! I know it's stupid. Aryll's fine now, I know Sky's bird isn't evil, it's just—!"

Wind flinched as Crimson moved again, but this time, the bird closed his eyes and bowed his head, stretching out his long neck towards the ground.

Sky and Zelda gasped. Sky looked between his Loftwing and Wind, the later looking slightly confused. 

"Wind," Sky nearly whispered, "he's asking for your trust."

"H-huh?"

"That's a very vulnerable position," Zelda explained. "He's completely at your mercy. That's... that's unheard of for anyone who isn't the Loftwing's own rider."

All the worry lines in Sky's face softened. "He can sense our connection," said the Skyloftian. "He knows you're all my brothers. And he knows you need to have a reason to trust him, Wind."

The sailor's shoulders dropped. He studied the Loftwing again with confused eyes, scanning the crimson feathers for any sign of a trick. Finding none, and suddenly looking very dazed, Wind looked back at Sky. 

"So... w-what does it want me to do?" the sailor asked quietly.

Sky walked around Crimson so he could stand next to Wind. Gently, he lowered himself into a bow. "Offer him the same trust he's showing you," said the knight.

Wind hesitated. He looked back at Crimson, still stretched out above the stones, then back at Sky. Slowly, unsure of his own body, Wind dipped his torso to copy Sky, and put his full attention on the Loftwing.

"Promise... not to hurt me or my friends, ok? I... promise I won't harm you, either."

Crimson opened his bright yellow eyes, studying the sailor through half-lids. Another crooning whisper came from his throat as he slowly raised his head, stopping his beak an inch from Wind's chest.

Sky took the sailor’s hand and placed it atop Crimson's beak. The bird sighed softly.

Wind's breath came out in a shudder. "W-whoa..."

"There you go! There's that brave sailor I know!" Warriors cheered, along with several of the others.

Sky patted him on the back. "Good job, Wind!" 

To their delight, Wind began to smile as Crimson nuzzled happily against his palm. "I guess... maybe he's not so bad."

Crimson crooned in agreement.

Four came up beside the sailor, feeling fit to burst with excitement. After Sky waved the smithy forward with a knowing look, Four placed his hand beside Wind's. He marveled at the warmth of the huge animal beneath his fingers.

His eyes met the sailor's, and they shared a disbelieving laugh. 

History turned reality.

Sky may have claimed that his home wasn't perfect, but to Four, both this era and the hero from it were simply, unequivocally, cool.

Zelda scoffed as Crimson ruffled his feathers beneath all the attention. He was surrounded by curious and affectionate heroes now, and absolutely basking in the love. He'd nuzzled everyone at least once, and was currently working very hard to preen Twilight's hair and fur cape to perfection.

"Just look at that bird, Indigo," Zelda shook her head at her own Loftwing. "What a display! How do you put up with him?"

Indigo fluffed her own feathers and preened her wing. She put up a very good show of appearing disinterested… and a bit left-out.

Sky laughed and joined Zelda's side, stroking down Indigo's ruffles. "Don't be jealous, girl. You'll have him all to yourself again soon. Let him say hello!"

Indigo spat a few loose feathers into Sky's hair. 

Zelda burst into laughter.

"Oh you think that's funny, huh?" Sky challenged his fiancée, a devious look in his eye. "Well here, have some!"

Zelda squeaked as she ran from Sky, who chased her around Indigo while trying to throw some of the stray feathers onto Zelda's head. As for Indigo, if birds could roll their eyes, Four was sure she'd be doing so.

Warriors reached down and hooked his arm around Sky's shoulders, holding him in place in a very Groose-like fashion. 

"Weeeeeell loverboy, we all know you're dying to keep flirting with Zelda, but don't you think it's about time you actually show us around, as promised?"

Sky blushed heavily under Warriors's gaze. "I-I…Well, I was just—"

"We're ready to show you around if Crimson's done hoarding everyone's attention," Zelda translated, her own face dusted red.

"Off the Loftwing, boys, you heard her," Time instructed. A chorus of "Awwwww!" 's filled the air as the young men dispersed, Wild slipping down from where he'd halfway crawled up onto the bird.

Crimson crooned at Wind before he could follow the others, nuzzling the boy's shoulder a final time. Wind patted his giant beak with a smile and whispered something that sounded suspiciously like, "good bird".

Sky and Zelda then turned to their respective Loftwings, giving them long hugs before the birds skipped off and alighted into the clouds once more. Sky lingered as he watched them go. 

"We'll see them again, love," Zelda said softly, taking his hand. 

The touch seemed to snap Sky back to the present. Finally tearing his gaze from the clouds, he gave her a small smile. "Thank you. You're right, as always."

Zelda flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I try."

Sky's face broke into a grin. Joyfully, he faced his traveling companions, his brothers, and spread his arms like wings. 

"Welcome, my friends, to Skyloft!"

>>><<<

Masterlist | First | Chapter 11 | Chapter 13 (The final chapter; coming next week!)

Author's Note: Mandatory disclaimer that the next chapter has only a small amount of Skyloft exploration, sorry y’all 😭 I love Skyloft but if these boys split and explore any more we’ll officially lose the plot 😅 However I am SO excited to share the final chapter of this Skyloft 3-parter, and the Grounded fic as a whole, with all of you next week! For now I hope you enjoyed seeing Crimson. ^u^ If you look closely you'll see several themes from earlier Grounded chapters make a return, both in this chapter and the next! ^u^

(Oh and I should note that Warriors has never been to Skyloft as per LU canon! There may have been monsters from the era of the sky called to his time, but no time travel necessarily. This is new to him!)

Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!

Massive, ivy-laden trees stretched towards the sky on grand spiraling trunks. All around him, the bright golden-green hues of leaves in sunlight painted the ground, dusting the rich, colorful caps of giant mushrooms that grew between the trees. The forest possessed a vibrancy that made even shadows burst with purple, and standing there after so long made Sky feel just as bright. It was as if he'd been filled with inexplicable strength, refreshed in body and mind. 

He took in another greedy breath, letting the familiar coolness radiate through his bones. He smiled. A laugh danced on the edges of his sigh.

He knew these woods.

He was home.

...and so was she.

Heart pounding, spine tingling in excitement he didn't dare contain, Sky let his body take off through the trees.

Several alarmed heroes charged after him.

"Sky! Where are you going now?" huffed Legend.

"I think we might be in his Hyrule!" Warriors called back.

"You mean," The traveler corrected with a grin, "whatever Hyrule was before it was Hyrule!”

“Ooh, ooh, the Surface, right, Sky?” Wind guessed excitedly.

Sky glanced behind him to see all his friends jogging along with him. "Yeah!" shouted Sky. "It's the Surface, now hurry! Follow me!"

“Hey!” Four laughed from Twilight’s back, “Shouldn’t we be waiting for Epona at the portal?”

“She’ll catch up to us later, don’t worry,” Twilight reassured him, adjusting his hold. “If we can catch up to Sky, that is!”

"I never thought we'd be asking the sleepyhead to slow down!" Wild snorted.

"And why should we?" Time chimed in. "Go get her, Chosen One!"

Time's support filled Sky with glee. With his smile stretched wide and legs practically skipping, he flung himself towards the little settlement that he knew was waiting just ahead. 

In just a few moments, the trees began to thin. The others had caught up to him by then, Wild choosing to dance around Sky's heels to egg him onward. As if he needed more reason to run. Sky could feel his body slowing, but his spirit soared, especially as the rich, leafy gardens of the Surface came into view. 

"Hey, is that—?"

"It's Link!"

"'Hey, Link!”

"Who are those men?"

"Are they chasing you, Link?!?”

Sky laughed loudly at the notion, waving both his arms gleefully to his townsfolk as he raced by. His smile seemed to calm their nerves, but further chatting would have to wait. If he lingered too long, the whole settlement would be on top of him, and he had somewhere to be.

At least, that was his plan, until a burly shape tackled into his side.

Sky squawked as Groose lifted him off his feet with one arm, using the other to drive his knuckles—affectionately—into his head.

"Where's the fire, little buddy?" Groose bellowed, laughing as Sky squirmed against his fist. 

"ACK! Groose, lemme go!"

"Why? So I can knock ya' over with a feather once I putcha back on the ground?" 

To prove his point, Groose suddenly released him. Sky wobbled as his feet hit the dirt, his frantic sprint finally taking its toll on his body. Grumbling, Sky tried not to cough as Groose caught his arm.

"Funny," he panted.

"Well hello to you, too," Groose simply grinned. "C'mon, Link, ya gotta trust the Groose here! I'm the kinda guy who looks after my buddies, after all. You really want your girlfriend to see you shriveled up on the ground like a wet remlit?"

"Heh, maybe your buddies should be looking out for you, that tackle was brutal," Sky wheezed out a laugh. “And she's not my girlfriend."

"Right, right. Fiancée~ Ooh, fancy word!"

Sky punched him in the gut, though he knew Groose hardly felt it. "Like you're not thinking about asking the same thing to a certain Item Check girl I kno—"

"UP BUP BUP!" Groose frantically waved his hands in front of Sky's face. The Chosen Hero smirked as his lumbering friend glanced around for eavesdroppers—or perhaps, and more likely, Peatrice. Finding neither, Groose pointed a nervous finger in Sky's face. "N-now listen here, that's confidential information! You can't just go blabbin' about sensitive topics like that! After all we've been through?"

Sky snorted. Nevertheless, he crossed his heart and patted Groose's arm. "I'm just teasing, don't worry. Although... you have to admit it's great blackmai—AAH!"

"WHOOPS! Back into the noogie we go!"

"ARG, HEY!"

Sky's ears burned as the other heroes chuckled at his predicament. He'd asked for this, he supposed, but it was still a relief when another, familiar voice cut through all the madness.

"Groose, let him breathe!"

Sky popped out from under Groose's arm, beaming at Pipit as he approached. The yellow-clad knight took one look at Sky's mop of windswept hair and shook his head.

"We just can't keep you out of trouble, can we?" he said with an exasperated smile. 

Sky shrugged. "Comes with the territory."

"Ha!" Pipit clasped him on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Link."

"It's good to be back."

"I'll bet." Pipit then shifted his gaze to the eight strangers nearby. "Now, are you going to tell us who your tagalongs are, or should I be worried? I don't recognize them from any of the islands."

"Yeah, Link, don't tell me you replaced us already!" gasped Groose, dramatically clutching his heart.

The rest of the heroes smiled fondly as Sky waved off his teasing friends. Wind in particular was glancing between Sky and Groose with huge eyes.

Subtly, the sailor mouthed, Is that the guy?!?!? and Sky had to bite back a laugh. He nodded, watching a lopsided grin grow on the boy’s face.

What a legacy for the Groosenator, thought Sky. He'd have to introduce the two properly, soon.

He turned back to see Pipit staring expectantly at him. Suddenly unsure of how much he should disclose about the future, Sky fumbled, "Umm... they're allies of mine. Other, ah, fighters? Sorry, it's complicated. They're all trustworthy! It's just..."

Pipit and Groose turned to each other with raised brows. "Hero business?" they supplied.

Sky deflated in relief. "Yeah. Hero business."

He glanced away from his classmates, dismayed to find a small crowd starting to form, just as he'd predicted. Sky tried not to be upset by the sight, though it would make things more complicated if they all decided to hammer him with questions. At least it wasn't all of Skyloft.

Although, he thought selfishly, still glancing through the settlers, the one Skyloftian he had been hoping to see wasn't among them.

"Something on your mind, featherhead?" smirked Pipit, reading him like a book.

"I think I know what it is," Groose grinned, definitely as payback. "Or maybe... who it is?"

"Guys," Sky groaned.

"Well, if he hadn't been so focused on rushing into town at the speed of sound, maybe he would have noticed who he passed by on the way in." With a knowing sparkle in his eye, Pipit nodded his head towards the space just over Sky's shoulder.

Sky's heart pounded. Rapid footsteps. It couldn't be... Did he dare hope...?

The Chosen Hero spun around just in time for a flash of brilliant blue and silky blonde to crash into his chest, enveloping his world in gold.

And suddenly, everything was her.

Zelda.

She was covered in soil from the garden and smelled like the market at harvest time, but she was here, alive, and still perfectly, unmistakably his.

A ridiculous laugh tore out of Sky's chest. Shouting her name, he flung his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air. Joy seeping out of every seam of his tunic, he spun her around, delighting in the glittering laugh that bubbled out of Zelda's mouth.

"Link! Link! You're back!"

"I'm back!"

"Oh Link," she laughed against his head, sending him over the moon, "Oh, I missed you so much. Here, let me down a second—"

"Nuh-uh!"

"What do you mean, nuh-uh? I'm getting dirt all over your tunic!"

"Don't care!"

"Link-"

"I love you."

Zelda let out an airy breath, just as exasperated by him as she was giddy. "You can't keep me up here forever."

"Says who?" Sky challenged, matching the fiery spark in her eyes. From here, they looked bluer than the waters of Lanayru's lost sea. How did I come to deserve her?

"Says me," Zelda interrupted his thoughts. "And don't you give me that pout, you're holding me too tight and I have stuff I want to say to you."

Reluctantly, Sky brought his fiancée's feet to the ground, only for her to whisper in his ear, "Besides, it's easier to kiss you now."

Sky's grin outshone the sun. Seizing her waist, he peppered fervent kisses along her cheek, his heart filling with joy as she giggled and squirmed with no real intent to get away. Oh how he yearned to capture her lips, to hold her to his chest and spend hours simply living in her presence, but he held back in light of the many eyes he knew were still pressed upon them.

As if to prove his point, he caught Legend gagging in the corner of his eye.

"Ugh, get a room!" groaned the veteran.

Time tousled his hair. "Hush you! They're young and in love, let them be."

"No, no," said Groose, "Bluebird's got a point there."

"Bluebird...?" Legend scowled, adjusting his cap.

Groose ignored him. "They're young! In love! And annoying about it!" The man pretended to shudder, earning a few chuckles from the nearby Skyloftians.

"Fair," Zelda quipped. "But it takes one to know one." 

Sky wheezed as more laughter bounced around the settlers. While Groose's engagement plans were still shrouded in secrecy, his courtship certainly was not. 

Groose, knowing this full well, simply threw up his hands and smoothed back his pompadour in one move. "Can't help it if the Groose is now full of love at all times. But at least you don't see me spinnin' my girl around in the middle of town like a lovesick kid. Besiiiiides…"

Groose directed his signature smirk and raised eyebrow towards Pipit, “Karane and Mr. Married Man over here aren’t exactly subtle, either, are ya, lovebirds?”

Sky doubled over into Zelda as Karane whistled at Pipit from somewhere in the crowd.

Pipit’s face went Loftwing-red. “I-! You-!!!” He pinched the bridge of his nose, not quite succeeding in hiding his smile. “Can we just focus on getting Link and his friends settled in, please?”

The burly knight gave Sky and Zelda a wink and turned to the crowd. "All right, folks! Show's over! Give the loverboy a break, his heart can't handle this much excitement!"

Pipit laughed off his blush and joined him. "There will be plenty of time to catch up with Link later, but Groose is partially right. I'm sure his journey has been long and taxing. Let's give him and his allies some rest and respect, and return to our own tasks."

Various grumbles, welcomes, and well-wishes sailed through the air as the crowd dispersed. Sky sighed, letting the tension he didn't know was there roll off his shoulders.

Zelda took his hand and squeezed it. "C'mon, Sleepyhead. Let’s take you and your friends somewhere quieter."

Sky smiled at her, soaking in her warmth and wisdom. "Ok." He nodded his head to the other heroes. "Follow us!"

The looks of wonder on his friends' faces were not lost on Sky as they meandered through the growing settlement. Time and Twilight gushed over the way some houses had been built into or around large trees. Four was pointing out arched doorways and grassy roofs, excitedly jabbering to Wind about how they looked familiar. Wind did his best to listen, but it was clear his eye was set on finding more of Groose's wild prototypes. 

Legend and Wild were chatting about the gardens and the foods that grew there. Hyrule breathed deeply, enjoying the peace brought by the wind and bird calls. Warriors sighed his agreement. The captain looked more at ease than he'd been in a long time.

It filled Sky with pride, the way they took in his homeland. And this isn't even half of it, he thought excitedly, biting his tongue. Wait until they see Skyloft!

In a few more steps they'd reached a quiet, secluded corner of the settlement, where the very first houses of the Surface had been built. His, Zelda's, and Groose's, in honor of their expedition here. They strolled up to the front of the middle house—Sky's—where a few large trees shaded the yard and roof in dappled light. 

Sky glanced over at Zelda's house. Seeing no sign of life in the windows or yard, he asked, "Where's Headmaster Gaepora?"

Time made an odd face at the name, but Zelda cut him off. "Oh! Father's up in Skyloft in a meeting with Professor Owlan, Oolo, and Stritch."

"Stritch?" Sky balked, looking nearly as baffled as Time. "Why?"

Zelda laughed. "They're trying to cross-reference old agricultural texts from before Skyloft with the gardens we have now. Stritch is there because he wants to raise a small insect army to fight a new pest that's been showing up, but they're not sure if it will 'throw off the ecosystem' or something, so they're up there debating it."

Sky groaned, leaning against one of his trees. "That sounds... complicated."

“That’ll be us one day,” Zelda smirked as her fiancé groaned again. “But, as exhausting as that sounds, we're not here to worry about that right now." 

Turning towards the wayward heroes, she opened her arms and smiled with a warmth that seemed to call upon the sun itself. Indeed, a sliver of light had slipped through the leaves, lighting up her hair from behind and turning it as golden as starlight.

When she parted her lips, the air felt pure and heavy all at once, and Sky knew that whatever words Zelda was about to speak would not be hers alone.

"This is a place of rest for all of you. Weary travelers of Surface and time, ease your hearts and rest your bodies. This era is one of peace. There are no monsters to fight, nor battles to win. A break like this is long overdue, and each of you is more than worthy to receive it. Please, let us thank you for all you have done and for all you will overcome."

For a long moment, the heroes were rendered silent under the weight of her words. Warriors and Twilight exchanged confused glances. Time put a hand to his chin. The more magic-sensitive among them stared at Zelda like she'd just pulled a campfire out of thin air, but Sky mostly ignored their wide eyes. Carefully setting his hand on Zelda's back, he watched the brightness in her eyes, the formality in her posture, felt the borrowed magic from a time long gone. And then—there. All in one moment it dissipated. Zelda blinked, taking in a big breath as if she were waking from a long sleep. When she noticed all the eyes upon her, she smiled awkwardly, and looked away. 

"You're an oracle." Legend stated, breaking the silence.

Sky and Zelda looked at each other, then back at the young hero. "What do you mean?" Sky asked him. 

"It's... someone directly connected to a specific goddess," Legend tilted his head. "Like... a mouthpiece and extension of that deity, but someone who's also mortal and lives on earth. I've met some. Your magic connection feels the same as theirs; deep, permeating. It's... completely surrounding you. And it's strong."

"So that's what it is," Hyrule whispered, seeming to connect several dots in his head.

Wind looked confused. "What goddess's magic is that, though? It sort of feels the same as when Tetra uses light magic to make a bow."

"It's Hylia's," said Wild, barely over a whisper. 

Zelda stared at him for a moment, and for that brief second, Sky saw that flicker of ancient magic in her eyes again. It felt more sorrowful this time. Sky wondered if she was seeing a vision of Wild's era.

Just as quickly as the light appeared it flickered out, and Zelda looked away. "Oh... well..." Zelda twined her hands. "That all may be true, but even still. Please. Just call me Zelda here. It helps... make sense of it all."

"Of course," Four said gently. "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Zelda."

"We're in good hands here," Wild smiled softly at her, and to Sky's delight, Zelda matched it with her own.

Legend looked at Sky again, piecing a puzzle together in his eyes until his expression bled into a big smile. "Leave it to Sky to woo the world's most powerful oracle into marriage."

Sky flushed as Zelda giggled, dramatically grabbing her fiancé's shoulders. "Oh yeah, he completely swept me off my feet, I couldn't take my eyes of him!"

Sky snorted as she fluttered her lashes at him. "If anything, Zelda, you swept me off of my feet—"

"Aww."

"—by shoving me off of Skyloft."

Zelda gasped and punched his arm. "No fair that was only a few times!"

"It was enough to count!"

Time's chuckle interrupted them both. "I see you two have much to catch up on. But tell me, are introductions in order, or has your clairvoyance filled you in, Zelda?"

"Oh!" Zelda waved her hands. "No, please, tell me your nicknames so I can put a name to a face. Letters and visions only do so much."

Quickly and eagerly, each Link shared his nickname or series of titles, Wind and Wild looking particularly pleased with themselves the whole time. Predictably, the humble traveler was the last to speak.

"Hy-rule..." Zelda's eyes widened when she heard the name. Sky hadn't told her what Hyrule was named after in his letters, but that look in her eye... it was almost as if she'd remembered something important.

"Um... hello?" waved Hyrule awkwardly.

Zelda blinked out of her stupor. "Oh! Hi! Yes, sorry... Hyrule..."

Sky took her arm. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah! Yeah, I'm ok!" Zelda laughed, despite the nervous energy now buzzing under her skin. "I... haha. It's just kinda funny. I was going to tell you after your first letter but I wanted to wait to say it in person."

"Say what in person?" Sky prompted.

"Well... the night before I first heard from you, I couldn't sleep, so I was... ah... thinking over the names, again, Link." She shot him a meaningful look, weaving her fingers tightly around his.

Sky's heart quickened. Had she really...?

"Names?" Twilight asked.

"What kind of names?" Wind squinted, suddenly looking very suspicious.

"Not for a baby, if that's what you're thinking," Zelda giggled as Sky and Wind suddenly blushed. "Not yet, at least. I meant place names, like for the Surface?"

"We've already got one!" called Groose in the distance, walking towards his workshop with a beam of wood on his shoulder for who-knows-what purpose.

"We are not calling the Surface 'Grooseland'!" Sky called back, feeling his heart melt back into mirth.

"Your loss!" Groose shouted. "When you come to regret it—and you will—don't come crying to me!" 

"Noted!" Sky yelled. 

Zelda laughed as Groose disappeared behind his house with a swagger. "Anyway," she continued, "I was thinking about it, and felt like the name of the Surface should reflect the powers that made it. So I was brainstorming a lot of variations: Godsland... Goddessteppe... Hyland..."

Sky felt his face splitting with a smile. "And...?"

"And my current favorite," Zelda beamed at the traveler, "Hyrule."

The wind seemed to taste sweeter the moment she uttered the name. Fresh, cool Skyloftian air blew through their bodies, stirring up leaves and sunlight and glazing the new buildings with a sense of sparkling purpose and pride.

Hyrule tousled his own hair, fidgeting under the attention that was now aimed at him. Twilight nudged his shoulder, and the traveler laughed, averting his eyes to the sky... where his gaze froze in absolute shock. 

Hyrule let out a sharp, strangled noise, face growing pale as he pointed past the treetops with a shaking hand.

The other heroes shot to attention. In a blink, they flung their hands to their sword hilts with eyes blown wide, hurrying to catch a glimpse of what had rendered the traveler speechless. 

Sky had expected a monster. Perhaps another kargarok, or a hinox from Wild's time.

He had not expected several cries of alarm at the sight of the glowing, brilliant triangles that blessed the very ground they stood upon.

"Is that the TRIFORCE???" Legend screamed.

Time turned to Sky in abject horror. "Where are its GUARDS?!?"

"It's just... hanging there, out in the open..." Hyrule stumbled backwards, looking two seconds away from a panic attack.

"Whoa..." Wind breathed. Four gaped in awe beside him.

"I—wha—How did we not see that before?!?" shouted Warriors, pulling his fingers through his hair. "Were the trees really obscuring it that much? Just—the ACTUAL Triforce is... what?"

Twilight had gone so pale that his face markings looked like coal. He said nothing, could do nothing but form incomprehensible sounds of utter disbelief. Sky's gut grew cold at the worry in Twilight’s eyes when their gazes met. Behind that blinding blue, terrible knowledge swarmed. 

It was akin to the look he would sometimes give to Time.

"So that's what it looks like."

Every single hero turned to Wild in horror. 

"What do you MEAN 'that's what it looks like'?!?" Legend demanded.

Wild shrunk back. "I-I just, I never saw it in person during my adventure, ok??? A-and if I did before, I don't remember." 

As he spoke, Wild scooted closer to Sky, gulping audibly. He glanced at the Chosen Hero. "Now I know how you felt when you asked about who Ganon was,” he murmured. “Sorry, bud. This feels kinda awful."

"And you!" said Legend, pointing at Sky, "Explain why the world's holiest artifact is being displayed up there like a festival wreath?!?"

"I—now hang on!" Suddenly under the fire of his friends' eyes, Sky floundered for an answer. "It's not some… festival wreath! The Triforce—it's holy to all the people of Skyloft, a symbol of the goddesses watching over us!  No one here would dare—"

"Sky." 

The clearing went silent as Time spoke up, his eye—no—eyes blown wide and haunted. He stared at Sky without blinking. "The Triforce is the most powerful object in existence. To have it simply sitting there for anyone to take advantage of, when the toil so many of us had to go through just to secure its location was so great... I can't... do you realize how dangerous this would be in any other era—?"

Sky didn't know when, but at some point, Zelda had walked forward, and now held fast to Time's hands. 

The air was heavy again.

"I did not speak falsely when I said this era is one of peace," she soothed. "Whatever is to come, whatever future the Triforce has in store, will have its time and place. For now, do not disregard the trials which the Hero of the Sky faced in recovering the Triforce for his people, for he knows as well as anyone what it is like to toil and bleed for such a blessing. For now, in this generation, the Triforce blesses this land, and this land protects the Triforce."

With a blink, Zelda came back to herself, suddenly looking very small. "But... thank you," she continued, "for letting us know about... the risks. W-we do have Sheikah guarding it, if that helps."

Just as quietly as Zelda had, Time lost all of his fight. Slowly, his blind eye closed, and his hunched shoulders dipped. Gently, carefully, he squeezed Zelda's hands, looking upon her in much the same way Gaepora would when his daughter was distressed. 

"Forgive me, Zelda," he sighed, long and deep. "And you as well, Sky. This is your era. I know in my heart you will protect the Triforce. I just ask... be cautious. Be wise. Do an old man a favor."

"You're not that old," Sky spoke quietly. He felt his own shoulders beginning to relax, though in his mind, he could not quite push back the bubbling thoughts of, curse; your fault; too slow.

Time seemed to pick up on the weight in Sky's chest, and attempted a smile. "No, I'll allow it."

"Time's finally admitting he's old?!?" Wind grinned, pouncing on Time's levity like a hungry remlit.  

The Hero of Time shrugged. "I suppose I've gotten used to the nickname."

"Well!" Zelda shook herself and clapped her hands. "We... have some things to add to the 'Settle the Surface' list! But for now, Link—er, Sky—is right. The Triforce is our symbol of hope here, a gift from the goddesses as we forge a new land. And if anything does start to smell rotten," she gave Sky a wobbly smile, "I doubt anyone would get very far with our resident Mr. Evil-Slayer around."

Sky took her hand and drew her closer, pressing his shoulder into hers. "It's you they should be worried about," he said, his voice more gravelly than usual. "Your wrath is the stuff of legend."

When Zelda laughed softly at his words, even if it was no more than a breath, she made it seem like a cloud had finally dispersed under the bright light of the sun. It seemed to lessen the fears of the other heroes, too, if their collective sighs and chatter were anything to go by.

But as Sky stared back into her eyes, he could not find the same contentment. Zelda's face was calm and determined, but he caught the way she bit at the corner of her lip—something she did when she when she fretted over a problem, and when she overworked her brain. She didn't deserve to fret over this now.

Tenderly, wordlessly, Sky rested his forehead against her temple, willing away her troubles and fears as if he could scare them off with a sword. His heart melted when he felt her return that pressure, letting out one of her tiny, fluttering sighs as she did so. His hand clasped hers more tightly.

He must have lost himself in that moment for far too long. Through half-lidded eyes, Sky caught Warriors raising an eyebrow before coughing into his fist. 

"Well then," grunted the captain. "If Zelda's divine knowledge has already assured us of our safety, I find myself inclined to agree with her. While we're here in an era of peace, I propose we make the best of it. Let's leave Sky to his catching up and restock what we need here."

"And explore?" Wind asked with pleading eyes.

"And... explore," Warriors conceded. "WITH a buddy system." 

"Why do you always look at me and Hyrule when you say that?" Wild scoffed, already dragging the traveler away from the clearing. 

Twilight tore his eyes from the Triforce, and after one last, softened glance at Sky and Zelda, set his attention on Wild. "The fact you have to ask that says wonders, cub."

"I'll go with them," Legend volunteered. He gave the Triforce a wary glance as well, but when he looked back at Sky, his face was mostly back to its normal level of snark. "Have fun 'catching up', lovebirds," he teased, giving them an honest thumbs up. Sky caught the unsaid, Sorry for being snappy earlier, and nodded to him, never blaming him in the slightest.

Predictably, Time lingered the longest by the Triforce, and Sky didn't doubt that the older knight would spend his time wondering about its security. In Sky’s mind he knew that protectiveness was due to Time's journey, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask the dragons and Levias about more safeguards soon. 

Four took Time's hand and guided their leader to join the others. The smith waved goodbye to Sky as he went, and Sky returned it, waiting a few moments before glancing over at Zelda. 

Dangers, dragons, the Triforce... Sky pondered, taking in the pinch in Zelda's brow as her own thoughts swarmed into a tempest. All problems for later. 

As his friends slowly set off to explore the town, Sky slipped his hand around his fiancée's arm, leading her over to the wooden bench that sat gently under one of his trees. He'd carved the bench himself last year, one of the biggest things he'd worked on, built for quiet mornings for himself, visitors, and—mostly—for his soon-to-be wife. They sunk onto the soft cushions together, stretching their tired limbs with matching, weary sighs.

For a moment, all they heard was the rustle of wind through leaves. Little birds twittered and sang to each other in the branches above, jumping through the green, shifting canopy with joy and ease. What freedom they had, Sky thought, to not be burdened with worldly woes. Though if the goddesses cared for even the birds’ little souls, he reminded himself, as he'd done so often on his journey, how much more did the deities see and care for their chosen people?

Beside him, Zelda sighed again, rolling her sandal-clad ankles in the cool Surface breeze. 

"You ok?" Sky asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Well,” she murmured, “I've got more to think about, now." 

As Zelda started to chew her lip again, Sky took her hand, leaning into her line of sight. "You've also got someone to help take your mind off of it."

"Oh?" Zelda nudged her shoulder into his. "Like you're going to be any better, Mr. Worrywart?"

"Hey, I thought I was Sleepyhead, king of daydreams and putting things off?"

"That's your alter ego" she tapped his nose. "But... honestly... It would be nice to put off thinking about the Triforce a little longer. Even though that might be a little impossible, now."

"Hey, 'for everything, a time and place', remember?" Sky said softly, rubbing his thumb over her hand. "We'll figure it out like we always do. We have each other now."

"We always have," she smiled, her eyes softening. "And always will. I know I intend to keep my vows."

Sky laughed, genuinely, at the sparkle in her gaze. "Forever and always," he agreed.

"Even when we're old and you're grey."

"Wh-Hey!” he sputtered, nudging her. “What about you?"

"I will have lovely white hair, thank you!"

Sky blew a raspberry as he laughed again, leaning against her as she fell into giggles beside him. When their eyes met, they were filled with a familiar hopefulness and light, and suddenly, things didn't seem so pressing anymore.

He'd almost forgotten how long it had been since they'd had a moment of peace like this.

Sky blushed as they drifted ever closer to each other, pulling each other in like magnets. Zelda really was the most beautiful woman alive. Sky glanced behind him at where his friends had been standing, but couldn't see much over his shoulder.

"Are they gone?" he murmured softly into her ear, just loud enough for Zelda to hear him. 

"Not yet," she hummed, matching his blush.

"Now?"

"Still not yet."

"They're walking so slowly," Sky grumbled, slipping his hands around Zelda's waist.

"Shh," she tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, letting him lean into her touch. "They're almost gone... almost... a little more... 

"Ok now!" Zelda threw her arms around his neck, giggling like birdsong. "All clear!"

Sky pulled his fiancée against his chest, beaming at her with all the adoration he could possibly muster. They both had a long way to go to settle the Surface, and plenty of challenges to face. But for now, those worries were carried far away by the breeze of their new homeland, allowing the founders of Hyrule to finally, finally sink into a deep, long kiss.

>>><<<

Masterlist | First | Chapter 10 | Chapter 12

Author’s Note: Haha as you might have noticed, I took a few creative liberties! At the time of writing, I actually forgot if Skyward Sword had any mention of sealing the Triforce away again once Link finds and uses it, and was under the impression it remained out in the open as a blessing for a while. I can’t exactly recall if that conflicts with SS dialogue, because I think it might in retrospect, but there ARE Sheikah guarding it from the shadows! If it does need to be sealed away, Zelda, Link, Groose, and the Sheikah will be right on it.

Also, elephant in the room: Zelda. I tried to leave the exact nature of her power open-ended, so if you want to read Legend’s guess as close but not quite the full picture you certainly can. As for me, I’ve never really been a fan of the whole reincarnation thing… Personal biases aside, it creates a lot of complications, especially if you throw the manga First Hero into that… so I personally like to think of Zelda as a very powerful oracle who can act as Hylia’s vessel/messenger and access some of her powers, memories, and visions, yet she’s also completely mortal and her own person. BUT! Please feel free to interpret the Zelda-Hylia connection however you like!

Wow I loved writing this chapter. I love writing the Skyloftians so much. It’s like coming home, especially now that I’ve been playing the game physically and growing to love them even more! Also Groose/Peatrice is an amazing pair I don’t know how it grew on me so much and I have GOT to write or draw them getting together some day, haha. Karane/Pipit are so cute, too; I just had to include them!

ALSO ALSO NEXT CHAPTER IS ANOTHER HUGE FAVORITE OF MINE, WOOOO!!!!

Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!

Two deactivated robots had crumpled in the back of the room, rusted beyond repair. Maybe they were part of Skipper's crew? Had they... been waiting for him to return to this place? Link frowned and called upon Fi for analysis.

She appeared in a swirl of dancing light. “This robot is part of the LD-301 Series of artificial life-forms,” she explained. “As just one of a number of mass-produced robots, it was not assigned a name.”

Link’s stomach twisted.

Her description was factual, no different from the ones she gave to any common robot. So why did Link suddenly and desperately ache for a Timeshift Stone? 

He had seen dozens of these fallen robots on his journey, but something about these two in particular made their fate feel… wrong. Maybe it had been the way Fi called them "nameless." Maybe it was the heavy quiet weighing down the atmosphere. Maybe it was how kind and genuine Skipper had been to him so far, leaving Link to wonder if there were other robots that shared Skipper’s kindness, ones Link would never have the chance to meet.

Regardless of the reason, Link knew exactly what he needed to do next. As if in a trance, he solemnly retrieved his gust bellows and began to sweep the room.

Cleansing air rushed past the sand and ushered the dust through the door. Link, for once, minded the pots, not breaking a single one as he blew away the ancient sand. He took special care around the robots, making sure each was spotless, and finally moved on to the edge of the room where portraits peeked out from their sandy blanket.

Link’s heart leapt to his throat as he uncovered the paintings’ subjects.

There was Skipper, of course, his hands raised happily towards the sky. Other paintings were gorgeous seascapes, with sunsets and blue skies reflected over more water than Link could comprehend. Grand ships in their prime sailed off to new worlds—Link wondered with a pang if those lands would ever be discovered again—and right next to a grand blue and gold chest… was a painting of the crew.

Link had never seen so many robots all in one place. Their hands were thrown high like Skipper’s, the proud captain in the middle of the jolly crowd preparing to take the wheel for them. None of the robots had mouths, but somehow, Link knew they all were smiling.

He dragged his hand against the wall as he wandered towards some papers pinned up a few feet away. Link traced an inlaid gemstone with his fingers. Even the walls had sea charts on them, faint lines marking pathways to forgotten lands and oceans lost to time. Link smiled sadly at little scratches and carved waves. So much character for a little room.

Link reached the first posted message and squinted to read the faded text:

Dear Captain, Thanks for everything, zrrt! Yours, the crew, vrrrrrm.

Link’s chest somehow grew warm and cold all at once. Of course Skipper would save a note like this. There was a lot of love behind it. Link moved on to the next message:

Dear Dad, Good luck at work, vrrm!

The air completely left the room.

Link’s heart skipped a beat, so many dreadful puzzle pieces snapping into place, because those were toys, children's toys, and decorations built for Skipper’s... Link took a step back and blinked rapidly. He didn’t even question how it could be so. He just knew it to be true.

And just like that, the room felt less like an old house, and more like a memorial.

The gravity of just how old this room was sunk upon him like a dirge without a melody. He could no longer deny the obvious.

Everything in the desert was gone. It had been for a long, long time. 

The little robot he'd saved at the mining facility was gone. 

Skipper's crew and family—two of which now lay discarded and vacant on the floor—were gone.

Skipper himself was dead. 

He had been deactivated long before Link had even been born.

It was all a bit more existential than Link had been prepared to deal with that day.

Feeling his limbs turn to lead, Link lowered himself onto the lone stool that sat in the middle of the room. Reverently, he turned his gaze to the faded portrait of Skipper. Funny how he'd only just been introduced to the captain, and now mourned him and a crew he never met.

"Master."

Link jumped as Fi's loud chime shocked him out of his daze. Clutching his heart, he glanced up at her now corporeal form, gasping a bit. "H-huh? What is it, Fi?"

She stared back at him with her blank, emotionless eyes. "I recommend waiting until after you have achieved your objective before taking a rest. First we need to find the sea chart."

…Right. Duty first, Link grimaced, and couldn’t help the way his heart sank and mourned. Fi was right, of course, and he knew it. He knew. Impa's warnings were still fresh in his mind, after all. But with Zelda in Impa's proven care, safely on the other side of a gate of time, Link had at least hoped that Fi would have allowed him a moment of silence in this place so heavy with memories. 

Memories. Time. Link had never felt them weigh so powerfully on his soul. 

He drew out a long, deep sigh that felt like it reached his boots, and slowly dragged himself off the stool.

The sea chart was right where he'd expected it to be. The bright turquoise chest was hard to miss in such a dilapidated room. At least it seemed to have protected the old sea chart tucked away inside, as the pages were much crisper than the crinkling letters on the walls. Link carefully placed the map in his bag.

Once again, Fi's chimes filled his ears, and again he turned to listen.

"Master, look over there."

Link felt his face grow more somber as he followed her gaze. Skipper’s crew waved back at him, oblivious to their fate.

"That is the ship containing Nayru's Flame," she concluded from the painting. "There is a 90% chance that the synthetic life-forms assembled here are the crew. As I have determined that the map you hold is indeed Skipper's sea chart, we are now one step closer to locating the Flame. Let's take it back to him."

Link looked back into the spirit's unblinking eyes, feeling his heart twist for his companion. What sort of existence was it, he wondered for a moment, to know so much and yet feel so little?

"I detect you are... disappointed, Master Link? I had expected this information to be useful to you."

Link smiled sadly at her, patiently shaking his head. "No, no. I'm not disappointed, just..." Weary? Overcome? Would she even understand what those feelings were, or just mistake it for needing physical rest? "It's just... a lot. All of this." He gestured to the wall.

Fi tilted her head. "You are... overstimulated?"

Link breathed out, pleasantly surprised at how close her assessment was to the truth. "Yeah. That's almost it."

"You are overstimulated... by paintings?" Fi cast her gaze around the room, reassessing its contents. Finding nothing of note, she turned back to Link. "I do not understand."

Instead of trying to explain his feelings and inevitably failing, Link tried a different approach. He pointed to the painting of the crew.

“What do you see in this painting, Fi?” he asked, slowly.

“Was I not clear before in my description of the subject matter?”

“No, no, I can see what's obvious, that is Skipper and his crew,” Link nodded at the painting. “I'm just trying to get you to look more deeply at it.”

“More deeply, Master?”

“Well, yeah. Think about it. What do you suppose getting a picture together meant to Skipper, or his crew? Why would Skipper keep it in his cabin?”

Fi paused for a moment, processing his question. “...One could surmise the picture was an object of great importance to him that he wished to keep close,” she said slowly.

Link's heart leaped with hope. "Yeah! Yeah, it holds a lot of sentimental value, doesn't it? A moment from day long past... What else, Fi? Can you see why it's sentimental?"

When Fi failed to respond in favor of simply staring at the painting, Link backpedaled. Trying to speak more in her language, he probed, "What can you... analyze about the moment this painting was made? About the crew? About Skipper?"

Fi continued to stare at the painting in silence. After a few moments, Link figured he’d pushed her too much, and the wind began to leave his sails. Well. At least he’d tried to get her to understand. Link was contemplating heading for the door when suddenly, very slowly, Fi spoke again.

"…The image would indicate that the ship's captain spent many happy days among his many crew members.”

Her eyes were still glued to the robots as Link spun around, staring at her in shock. The hope in his chest burst like a ray of light, spreading through him in an instant. “Yeah, yeah it does, Fi,” his voice wavered with pride. “They all look very happy.”

“They were all closely connected.”

“Yeah,” Link breathed out. “If I had to guess, this picture probably reminded Skipper of simpler days, before he was alone. Before… he had to face the monsters by himself."

Link shook his head, trying to focus on Fi’s breakthrough instead of the way Skipper's story sounded so, so familiar.

Fi glanced back at him a moment—almost quizzically—before returning her eyes to the waving crew. She studied the picture quietly for a long time, as if trying to see past its canvas. After a few seconds, Link realized that she was too preoccupied to say more, so he left her to her analysis and ambled back to the stool.

Link dropped onto the seat with a weary sigh. His arms were killing him after using the clawshots so much, and it felt good to let his throbbing limbs droop for a while. Funny how easy it had become to forget such discomforts while on a time crunch. Well, maybe that was less “funny” and more “worrisome,” but it was a problem for later. For now he would rest his body, and maybe… his eyes… too… … …

A gentle glowing blue light roused Link to his senses before he could fully nod off. After shaking himself awake and breathing in deeply, Link blinked blearily up at Fi.

“Hey. Sorry,” he apologized, rubbing his eyes.

Fi was… oddly slow to respond. “…A report, Master.” She turned her face to the grate in the ceiling.  “I have detected a bug infestation in the upper area of the house.”

“A… bug infestation?” Link repeated, feeling very confused as he glanced up and saw nothing but the grate above him. He tried to ignore the decorations.

Fi simply nodded and spiraled back into the sword on his back, leaving him without further explanation.

Link groaned as he started to piece together what a “bug infestation” probably meant. Having fought a few arachas already, he could only assume that there were a fair few of them crawling all over the roof of Skipper's house. Great.

A bit disappointed that Fi had reverted to her no-nonsense way of speaking so soon, Link resolved it was time to go. He stood, stretched his arms and back, and made it to the door before pausing to glance around the room once last time. After sending up a small, silent prayer for Skipper and his family to find peace, Link turned the doorknob and left the room.

The sound of cicadas and swirling wind hit him as soon as he was outside.

“All right, let’s get this over with,” Link murmured, quickly finding a box to climb. He crested the first level of the house and braced himself for hordes of scuttling legs.

The roof was empty.

Link blinked, hauling himself up so he could stand. He walked a full circle around the level to double-check, and still no arachas. Had he missed something?

Link stopped at the foot of a clump of vines and followed them up with his eyes. There was one last tier of the roof he could investigate, though it offered very little room for a supposed “infestation”. There were no monster sounds, either. In fact, the only noise he could hear besides the wind was the persistent buzz of cicadas…

…Hang on a second.

He climbed the vines as quickly as possible. Sure enough, the highest level was completely clear of arachas. The buzzing, however, was only getting louder, leaving no room for doubt as to just what kind of bug had made its home at the top of Skipper’s Retreat. Link slowed his pace to a crawl as he tip-toed around the smokestack in the center of the roof, desperate to catch a glimpse of them.

Beautiful cicadas clung to the smokestack, chirping their chittering calls to all that would listen. For a brief moment, Link considered pocketing them, but it almost felt wrong to take them from this place. So, he simply crept as close as he dared, studying their glistening black and gold bodies and letting their rattles flow through him.

He smiled. Musical insects never failed to put him at ease. They reminded him of his home, a place so full of music and laughter.

Of Zelda’s music and laughter, he amended with deep yearning.

Maybe that was why cicadas were now one of his favorite insects.

Link gasped. And Fi knew that.

Some mix of disbelief and pride soaked through his bones. Is that… is that why she…? He turned his head, trying to study the hilt of the Goddess Sword, which remained suspiciously quiet.

Link let out a breathy laugh, a grin splitting his face. “Thank you, Fi. This made me really happy.” He ran his fingers over the hilt. “I really needed this today.”

The sword chimed under his touch, and Link was convinced her glowing flicker was brighter than usual. Its warmth spread through his body, giving him the strength he needed to stand up straight.

Link made his way down the roof, stepping out onto a platform where a zipline waited to escort him back down to Skipper. He breathed in the desert air, the breeze ever so faintly tinged with the salty smell that surrounded the Timeshift boat in its pocket of ocean. It was time to move on. It was time to find the Flame.

Link gripped Fi’s hilt once more, squeezing it as if he were holding her hand.

Together, my friend. We’ll do this together.

Fi chimed brightly behind him.

>>><<<

End of fic!

Check out my Masterpost of my other fics!

Author’s Note: I can’t remember now if this is one of the first times Fi describes something in emotional detail (referring to Skipper’s many happy days with his crew), but it’s one of the first that stuck out to me, especially after being smacked in the face with “get back to work” after I made Link sit down before getting the sea chart at Skipper’s retreat. 😅

ALSO (and because I just did this in-game) freeing Skipper’s crew from the Sandship must have been a HUGE mood booster for Link. He made a difference in Skipper’s life and got to have him reunite with some of his crew, at least! Asfdhjgfkh the robots are so cute, y’all, I love them ^u^

Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!