Grounded
Chapter 13: A Heart Held Aloft, Part 3
An active day in the Era of the Sky is best ended with a cozy campfire and a night of music and reflection. It’s been a long journey so far, but a wonderful adventure all the same.
Author’s Note: At long last, we've reached the end of the fic!!! Thank you all SO much for the love and comments letting me know that something in this story stuck with you. I'm honored to know it brought some smiles! It certainly was a blast on my part, and seeing this through feels like a huge accomplishment. Without further ado, here is the final chapter of this fun little fic. Enjoy some cozy vibes and new beginnings! [Linked Universe belongs to @jojo56830 / @linkeduniverse , and The Legend of Zelda belongs to Nintendo of course.] Happy Reading!
Masterlist | First | Chapter 12
(💚Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but Never repost, thanks! <3)
>>><<<
Hyrule had to admit, the sky really wasn't that bad, aside from the whole "miles above the ground" thing.
Skyloft itself was solid enough, and endlessly charming. The closeness of the townsfolk even reminded Hyrule of the towns back in his own era. A small, secluded haven where everybody knew everyone... it was nice. Plus, he knew he didn't have to worry about anyone secretly being a monster. Even that strange gentleman Batreaux that Wild and he had met in an old house under the island, despite an odd swirl of magic, had turned out to be an exceptionally sweet and helpful guy.
Hyrule had almost laughed at how Batreaux reminded him of the secret coalition of magical elders back in his own time. Batreaux certainly would have fit right in.
The traveler and champion must have explored every inch of Skyloft, spelunking through glittering waterfall caves, climbing towers to reach a giant nest or beautiful platforms, even crawling through the rafters of Sky’s knight academy and accidentally falling into the bath through an old grate. They were beyond grateful that no one was actually using the bath at the time.
“That would have made a splash,” Hyrule smirked. Wild wheezed with laughter as he wrung out his hair beside him.
The rest of the day crept on without incident, barring Wild’s crazy idea to jump off Skyloft and land on a tiny, isolated island that floated on its rim. To Wild’s credit, he did land the jump, but a rescue knight immediately chewed him out and carried him back to the main island. Wild didn’t even look mad as he bragged to everyone that he “technically” rode a Loftwing, and Hyrule—once his own heart had recovered—enjoyed the horrified expressions he got when he added that Wild had jumped off of Skyloft right before his “flight”.
They both agreed to never tell Sky about the stunt for their own safety.
As their explorations crept on, though, Hyrule began to notice the one true downside of touring Skyloft, besides the possibility of falling off the edge. At least if he fell—as proven by Wild—he could count on the rescue knights to catch him, or he could make use of his fairy spell as a last resort. No, this was something he never could have accounted for.
Hyrule felt extremely dizzy. And quite a bit winded, too.
He'd first noticed it while sprawled in the cool grass with several of the cute, cat-like creatures Sky had called 'remlits'. The disorienting, pulsing sense of vertigo had hit him like a moblin as soon as he'd lain down, and even the purring remlits and flower-scented breeze couldn't distract him from his malaise.
For a while, he'd debated if he was simply allergic to these ancient felines. Maybe that was common for people outside of Skyloft? Wild, who'd been playing with the remlits beside him, seemed less affected, but still rubbed his forehead from time to time.
Hurule had almost convinced himself it was the remlits until he and Wild regrouped with the others and promptly discovered that Four had passed out from running around the island like an excited puppy.
Ah, thin air, Hyrule realized as he watched Warriors help the dazed smithy back to his feet. That makes much more sense.
He rubbed his achy head, feeling rather sympathetic towards Sky and his own respiratory issues on the ground. Did Sky feel like this, or at least the inverse of it, all the time, or had he just gotten used to it? How quickly the symptoms had crept up on Hyrule after the adrenaline had worn off also threw him for a loop. Sudden breathing problems meant slowing down to assess the damage, and slowing down meant danger and—
The traveler blinked. Hyrule took as deep of a breath as he could and reminded himself that he was past those hard days. He was safe. His kingdom was better than ever. Old habits died hard, he supposed.
I guess I’m more like Sky than I thought, he realized with a sheepish flush. Hyrule resolved to be a little more understanding the next time Sky got into one of his "too slow" moods.
At this point even Wind was, well, winded, and it was decided quite immediately that they would return to the Surface for supper.
As they waited for Beedle, Hyrule flexed his fingers, wishing his magic could do something for air problems. Sky managed to catch his eye.
"Here," the Skyloftian smiled, handing Hyrule a shimmering, brilliant blue potion. "These used to just be for swimming, but we found that they help if you've been down on the Surface too long and get winded when returning to Skyloft. Can you help me pass some around before someone else passes out?"
Hyrule took the potion and uncorked it, fascinated by the fizz of bubbles that flew to the surface with a hiss. He smiled back at Sky and clinked his bottle against the one in the Skyloftian's hand. "I'm at your service!"
"Good," said Sky, "because I think Warriors is about to eat dirt."
Hyrule laughed as Sky caught the swaying captain's shoulder and forced him to take some of the potion. Seeing that his fellow medic was being attended to, Hyrule glanced at the bottle in his own hands and, curious, took a sip.
The potion felt like breathing in a fresh gulp of air, and tasted of cool, clear, raspberry-tinted spring water with an added fizz. Almost instantly, most of the slog pulsing through his body went away, replaced by oxygen and sharper senses.
Pleasantly surprised, he turned to the now upright captain and held up the bottle. "This stuff's amazing!"
"Yes, quite a medical marvel!" Warriors agreed. "Hard to come by in a war, but perfect for times like these. Oh, Traveler, give some of it to Time, won't you? He's over there acting stoic but I'd recognize that eye twitch anywhere. His stubborn head gets achy from time to time."
Hyrule skipped over to their leader, grinning unapologetically at the way Time frowned at Warriors. "Drink up, Old Man, Captain's orders."
Time's scowl turned playful as he took the bottle. "All this fuss over me. You'll turn me grey for real at this rate." He took a sip, his eyebrows quickly shooting up. "...This is quite pleasant."
"You're welcome," Warriors sing-songed.
After Sky and Hyrule finished passing around the air potions, it wasn't long before Beedle’s air shop arrived over the town. Refreshed and reenergized, it took little effort to climb the rope up to the shop again, and on the way down to the Surface, Hyrule found himself feeling much braver. He even watched the clouds pass by at the railing this time, brightly chatting with Four, Wind, and Wild about all the hidden caves and secrets they had discovered on the fantastical floating island.
As the sun began to turn the creamy clouds rosy, the air shop dipped down once again through the Cloud Barrier, falling gently towards the afternoon-kissed Surface.
>>><<<
It took a little hustling, a little bustling, and getting lost once or twice in the richly forested Faron Woods, but by and by a campfire was lit outside Sky's house, and bedrolls and blankets were distributed throughout.
Sky and Groose laughed as they raced each other to the fire, balancing an obscene number of small pumpkins on their heads. Hyrule felt a sense of pride when Sky won, especially since he'd been balancing the most pumpkins.
Zelda had enlisted Twilight's help in carrying over a large pot to the fire, where he then set it up over the flames so she could begin on some rice. As Zelda stirred and Twilight stoked the fire, Warriors and Four made quick work of chopping the vegetables and herbs that would soon join the rice.
Hyrule grinned when Sky asked for his and Legend's help carving out the pumpkins scattered in the grass. With a practiced hand, the traveler cut open his allotted gourds with ease, and Legend didn't even have to step in once! Hyrule caught the veteran hero eyeing him anyway, but the high-five they shared when their task was complete sent Hyrule's spirit over the moon.
Time and Wind sat alongside them, scooping out the pumpkin guts to save for soup stock for another day. They were getting messier and messier the more seeds they flicked at each other, beaming their matching, childlike smiles all the while.
Wild had a steady rhythm going in the meantime, taking up the gutted pumpkins and escorting them to the stove inside Sky's house. Zelda had given him a crash course in how to bake them, and each time a batch of finished pumpkins was returned to the campfire, the delicious, sweet, smokey smell in the air just got stronger.
Hyrule's mouth could have watered all of Lake Hylia by the time the food was done. Golden, steaming pumpkins filled with rice and vegetables sat tantalizingly before them all, but Hyrule restrained himself from snatching one just yet.
The Skyloftians were a reverent people, and very welcoming, at that. Sky, Zelda, and Groose motioned for the others to all join hands, and after a moment of silence, Zelda led them in a grace. Something about it, maybe Zelda's gleaming magical connection, maybe the promise in the words she spoke, warmed Hyrule's heart. It made him feel so thankful and blessed that he almost forgot about the meal.
Almost.
It didn't stop him from physically leaping to call dibs on the best-looking pumpkin the second the grace was completed, and oh was it worth it.
"This is heavenly," he sighed, mouth full of savory-sweet rice.
Sky grinned. "We did a good job making it together, didn't we? How do you rate it, cook?"
Wild had already finished half his bowl. "Golden. Perfect. I'm stealing this recipe, Sky." The champion danced a bit as he took another bite.
"Won't that create a paradox?" Time teased.
"Not if Sky promises to pass this dish down!" Four suggested. "I certainly will! We'll make stuffed pumpkins historic."
The rancher bit off a chunk of baked pumpkin and hummed in delight. "I'm all for more pumpkin recipes. 'Specially if they taste like this."
"We had a good harvest today," Zelda grinned. "And some cute cooks."
She kissed Sky on the cheek, and Hyrule almost choked on his rice when she stole a spoonful of Sky's food right under his blushing nose. She's just as crafty as he is!
As Legend and Groose made faces at the flirting pair, Wind elbowed Hyrule, mouthing something akin to, "Made for each other". Hyrule had to agree.
Perhaps the lovebirds were getting too much for even Groose, for he soon glanced up at the dimming sunset, shoveled up the rest of his rice, and hopped to his feet. "All right kids, it's been fun, but the Groose has gotta fly!"
"Aww, Groose, you're leaving?" Zelda pouted.
Her disappointment almost swayed the burly knight, causing him to shift from foot to foot, but he steeled himself and nodded his head. "Yep! Sorry, got plans. Gotta see a girl about an item!"
Sky and Zelda instantly brightened. Together, they smirked, and let out a loud, intentionally irritating, "OOOoooOOH!"
"Yeah, yeah," Groose waved them off, ruffling Wind's hair as he walked away. "Keep that good head on your shoulders, kid! Don't let those goofballs drag ya down!"
"Aye aye," Wind saluted.
"I hope you have an engaging experience!" Sky called out to him, eyes as mischievous as a cat’s.
"OH? What's that I hear? You volunteer to be my next test subject for the Groosenator? Why thank you, Link ol' buddy!"
"You know she's gonna say yes!!!" Zelda chimed in.
Groose stumbled, looking back at her in shock. "Wh—Link told you?!?"
Sky held up his hands. "Hey, she figured out what you’re up to on her own, I didn't squawk!"
"Sure!" Groose huffed, the sound not quite matching the giddy grin and blush covering his face.
Sky and Zelda shouted more well-wishes until Groose disappeared around a cluster of trees on his way to the settlement.
Zelda leaned over to Sky. "Is he really asking her tonight?"
Sky grinned. "I actually have no idea, I just like teasing him about it."
Zelda shoved him and giggled into her pumpkin bowl.
"Sky, you're a menace!" Legend laughed, the sound all light and bubbly.
"And that surprises you?" Warriors smirked. Suddenly, the captain's eyes lit up, his face nearly as mischievous as Sky's. "Miss Zelda, that reminds me. Has anyone in our group told you about Sky's elevating experience riding an animal known as a horse?"
"No???" Zelda blinked, leaning forward excitedly. "Do tell."
"Ah—hah—wait wait wait—" Sky floundered, unable to keep the story from spilling across the campfire in a wave of laughter.
Orange and pink became indigo blue as the stars took hold of the sky. Crickets chirped their melodies on the cool evening breeze, harmonizing with the chorus of rustling leaves and the crackling fire. Empty bowls and full bellies all sat peacefully together, finally resting from the excitement of the day. Compared to all the evenings Hyrule had experienced after terrible battles and taxing adventures, this was probably one of the most relaxing campfires he'd sat beside...
Especially when Zelda pulled out the harp from Sky's bag and began to play.
At first there was no tune. Random notes plucked into the air—likely Zelda getting a feeling for the instrument again after not playing it for a while. Sky set his arm around her shoulder as her notes steadily became more confident and unified. Then, she began practicing chords. The harmony of notes started to flow like a waterfall, down and up and down in a way that soothed all the heroes’ hearts.
Hyrule wasn't close to her musical level by any means, yet his fingers still itched for his recorder. He and a few other heroes might have grabbed their instruments, too, if Zelda didn't briefly put down her harp and begin to speak.
"So," she fiddled with her hair, "while you were away, Link, I... well I've sort of been working on something. To pass the time and... remind me of you."
She bit her lip, focusing her gaze on the strings instead of on Sky, who looked upon her as if she were his entire world.
Zelda cleared her throat and sat up straighter. "So! I... I'd like to play it. Or at least try to. Maybe you all can give me your opinion."
When her sheepish smile met the other heroes, Hyrule was struck by just how much she reminded him of the first princess he'd rescued, the girl who had later rescued him from a life of lonely wandering. Hyrule met her eye and gave her an encouraging nod. Zelda smiled back at him.
"Play for us, love," Sky murmured, and Zelda set her fingers on the strings.
Music filled the forest.
Hyrule's heart skipped a beat.
That—it couldn't be...
He glanced around at the other heroes to prove he wasn't crazy. Wonderstruck eyes met his, all eight of them realizing what song Zelda had just created.
It was slow, hesitant, and flux, with some foreign melodies mixed into the ancient rhythm just now brought into the world. Like a newborn, it floundered and soared with both uncoordinated steps and boundless potential, a potential wrapped up in the three notes that history would never dare to change:
E, G, D.
Mi, So, Re.
Zelda's Lullaby.
When Zelda's clear, angelic voice soothed his ears, dancing along with her harp, Hyrule couldn't help himself. He reached for his recorder and joined in with the parts he knew.
Sky and Zelda, the later of which faltered but kept up her music, glanced up in shock as one by one, the Links joined in.
Time's clear, confident ocarina sang, Four and Warriors playing in soft harmony with him. Twilight and Wild joined their deep and light voices in kind. Wind kept time with his Wind Waker, the sound of distant chimes ringing on beat. Even Legend pulled out his very own harp, glancing at Zelda's fingers to lead him in the tune.
Sky and Zelda looked ready to cry. Holding her tightly, Sky buried his face in her hair, his own deeper register humming along to the melody he'd picked up. Together, they played as one mind, partaking in a tune nearly as old as time itself. It went unsaid how they all knew it, but it didn't take a genius to figure it out, and by the end of the song, Sky and Zelda were wrapped in a tight embrace.
With the camp now quiet, and a few of them silently moving to clean up after dinner, Hyrule watched the people all around him with an awed feeling in his chest.
They were all different, it was true. No one looked at the moon like Time did, or the dusk like Twilight. No one else had Legend’s aches or Warriors's memories of war. Only Wild knew what it was like to be dead for a century. Only Four knew the feeling of splitting apart. Wind alone had experienced life at the mercy of a world of surf and tide.
But despite Sky's struggles with immigrating from Skyloft to the Surface, despite the slow growth from ruin to prosperity back in Hyrule's own time, despite all the differences between all their eras...
Songs like this persisted.
Courage and love persisted.
Time set a blanket around the exhausted lovebirds—the beginning of the royal family—and Hyrule laughed in amazement and how this evening could be so mundane and so important at the same time.
He watched his brothers joke and sneak around the dozing pair like the young adults they were, smiling as all beings did no matter their era or race.
For everything that seems strange and unnatural, different and wonderful...
Hyrule glanced up at the Triforce, finally feeling a sense of peace at its golden light,
...So many things remain the same.
>>><<<
Sky awoke to the chirrup of crickets and a soft breath on his cheek.
Dazed, unsure of just what had woken him, he blinked at the doused fire at his feet. A few dark blobs marked the bodies of the heroes who had chosen to remain outside for the night, each, like Sky, wearing a blanket to ward off the mild chill.
Blearily, Sky frowned down at where he sat propped against a tree. When had this blanket gotten around him? Where was...
Zelda's breath brushed his face again as she curled closer into his side. Sky's heart fluttered.
Oh. Right. My era.
Sky sunk back into her presence, letting his heavy eyes close over the sight of a distant shooting star.
"...You said they were all named Zelda?"
"Hzzzmm?" Sky slurred, trying to comprehend Zelda's sudden question. "Oh. Mm-hmm. Most. 'Cept Tetra."
"Like a tradition..." Zelda breathed out. Her words carried some sort of weight that Sky was too tired to understand. She was silent for a while after that, long enough that Sky almost fell back asleep, until she took another breath to speak.
"So our daughter could be a Zelda too?"
That got Sky up. "H-Huh???"
"Shh, it was only a question," Zelda brought his head back down onto hers. "I mean, after the wedding. When we have babies? If one's a girl... Zelda. It seems strange, but fits, too. Maybe... maybe Zel, or Zellie? That one's cute..."
Sky wished he was more lucid so he could better appreciate this line of thought. Lightly, he kissed her head and drew her closer. "'S perfect."
"Zellie... we'll need a crib and things for her..."
"I'll build us some."
"And clothes... I bet my father's still got all of mine from when I was little."
"Don't doubt it, he's a sentimental guy."
"Mmmhmm... that leaves something from me then."
Sky bumped her forehead with his nose. "Like being a good, strong mother? M'think you'll have that covered."
"That's sweet," she blushed. "But it should be something... more." She reached her arm around him, fingers brushing the rim of the harp that had fallen beside them. "Link... I think…” She pulled the harp into her lap, cradling it close with a yearning so strong that Sky could physically feel it. She smiled breathlessly.
"…I think want to give her our song."
Sky felt his chest burst open like an egg, too full of love to stop the emotion from flooding through his body. Feeling it accumulate in his eyes, he blinked rapidly and hid his face in Zelda's shoulder.
"Oh Zelda," he whispered to her tenderly. "Somehow it feels like it was hers all along."
"And it's a lullaby..."
"For our little princess."
"Zellie, or Zelda."
Sky met her lips and kissed her slowly, sleepily drinking in the moment. It felt like a cornerstone of his world had just shifted into place. He pulled back after a while and smiled at her. "S'perfect. You're perfect."
"W-well I definitely don't know about that," she flushed. "But this moment right here?" She sighed against his chest, hugging him tightly. "It feels pretty perfect to me."
Sky melted into her embrace, already feeling himself drifting into sweet dreams. Strange new worlds, unknown futures... they didn't worry him as much as they once did. In his half-lucid state, he could have sworn he saw them: the princesses that his brothers held dear, all their triumphs over evil and their smiles in the end. Knowing, trusting the heroes of all those eras like he did now, Sky had no doubt that his descendants—his and Zelda's, he thought giddily—would be well looked after.
The future would come as it would, and together, they would meet it. Never mind curses or mistakes. The Surface was a place of boundless opportunity and new life, all of it sitting before them to pursue at their own pace. And now Sky had witnessed the promise that one day, far, far in the future, despite hardships and war, the land would still be standing in the light.
The nighttime sounds whispered a soft, natural lullaby to Sky and his beloved, soothing the Skyloftians into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Tomorrow, he knew, would be another grand adventure.
>>><<<
End of Fic!
Masterlist | First | Chapter 12
Author's Note: Here we are at last! Thank you all again, this journey through the cultures of the Surface and the Sky has been SO much fun, and it's been made even more exciting by all of you tagging along for the ride! It's on to other Zelda art and stories from here, and you can expect my love of Linked Universe and Skyward Sword to permeate it, ha! Cheers, y'all!
As a bonus, here's what the others were up to in Skyloft:
Warriors: Made a beeline for the Sparing Hall ever since hearing about it from Sky's peers, and made fast friends with Eagus. He even grabbed some great tips for teaching others sword techniques. Then he went to sit in the shade and pet a remlit after feeling the thin air start to hit him hard (he used up his air on sword drills, poor guy).
Wind: Followed Wars to the Knight Academy but broke off to find Owlan, as per Sky's suggestion. Wind asked him all about Loftwings and gained a LOT of info from the instructor, and the more he learned the more his fear left and his admiration grew. Afterwards he explored a bit and ended up playing random games with the Skyloftian kids in the Plaza (and kept an eye on Warriors).
Four: Ran around like a crazy person, exploring everywhere and investigating everything. He would have joined Hyrule and Wild but they didn't share his desire to talk to every single townsperson about all they knew/had lived. He dragged Legend around for a bit before wandering by himself, maybe finding some Sky Minish, and breaking into the Knight Academy library. After running around some old ruins he passed out right in front of Warriors from the thin air.
Legend: Started tailing Four but couldn't/didn't want to keep up, and trusted the smith could handle himself. Legend also talked with several Skyloftians but in a more pleasant, casual way, and poked around in the market for a bit (he enjoyed haggling with Rupin and getting on his nerves maybe a little too much). He ended up joining Wind and playing a few games with the Skyloftian kids.
Twilight: Made it his one and only mission to pet every remlit on Skyloft. He amassed a remlit army, and for a while became their favorite Hylian, much to his delight. After having his heart stopped for the 50th time when Sky demonstrated that remlits could fly (why would you explain that only after you've thrown the cat off Skyloft, Sky?!?), he did enjoy tossing them directly up in the air and catching them as they floated down to him. Later he joined up with Time and tried some of Piper's soup in the Bazaar, and they both marveled at how rich it tasted even without dairy.
Time: Went for a peaceful walk as Twilight cooed over the remlits, taking in the quiet wind and gentle atmosphere. He enjoyed people watching for a while, and was the only one of their group to catch a glimpse of where Sky and Zelda had snuck off too after they'd given everyone a tour, much to his amusement. He got roped into helping carry some barrels and doing other odd jobs along with Twilight before they both ended up getting a snack at the Bazaar.
Sky and Zelda: After showing everyone around, laying some ground rules, and letting them split off to explore, the couple quickly found a secluded spot near the eastern windmill to smooch each other silly Ahem, I mean, appreciate being back in their childhood home again. >u< They then went to check up on Gaepora and had a lovely reunion with him as Link caught him up to speed on his adventures =)
Thanks again for reading!!! <3
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!
(💚Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but Never repost, thanks! <3)
