The Red Thread of Fate (Completed)

Chapter 1

I walked up to the Statue of the Goddess where I could see Zelda waiting. I smiled and walked closer to her, Blu was circling around the Statue as Zelda was standing in the middle of the golden circle on the ground in front of the statue playing something as I could her singing. "Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess... unite earth and sky....Bring light to the land." She turned smiling and laughing. "Hey! Good morning, Link. I'm glad to see Blu got you out of bed." I laughed, rubbing the back of my head while nodding. "Yeah, she gave me quite the wakeup call which was quite hard not to sleep in from." She nodded laughing, "I was pretty sure you'd sleep in and forget to meet me this morning. But look at this instrument! And look at this outfit! They're mine to use today in the ceremony, since I'll be playing the role of the goddess. Aren't they beautiful? Especially this instrument! They tell me it's just like the one the goddess was said to have in the legends. It sounds gorgeous too." I nodded in agreement. "Yeah Zelds, they're great."

She gestured to the white cloth around her shoulders. And look at these clothes! I made this wrap myself, and we get to use it in today's ceremony! Between the harp and this outfit, I'm going to make a great goddess today! I got you up early this morning because I wanted you to be the first to see me like this, Link!" She spun around and smiled. "So how do I look?" I smiled brightly at her. "You look great Zelds! Like a true goddess." We laughed and she smiled. "Thanks Link! You're too nice." I rolled my eyes at her in my goofy personality as she laughed. "Ah, there you are, Zelda. Are you all prepared for today's ceremony?" I turned and Robert was entering the Statue of the Goddess." She smiled. "Oh, hello, Father." He smiled, noticing me too. "Ah, Link, you're here too. Outstanding. It's encouraging to see you up so early, given your capacity for sleep." He laughed, ruffling my hair. "Thanks Robert, well you can thank someone's Loftwing for that." I stared accusingly for Zelda. He chuckled. "Well, if you win today's ceremonial race, you'll get to participate in the postrace ritual with Zelda, I'd love nothing more than seeing my two performing the ritual together so give your best out there." I nodded smiling, "of course Robert, right Zelds?" She put her head down and spoke.

"Yes. About that.... Father I don't know if he can do it!" She loudly accused in face to add. "Recently Link hasn't been practicing much at all for the ceremony!" She told him. "Hey! that's not-" "And even when he's out riding his Loftwing, he just lazily gliding around. Probably daydreaming!" I huffed as she cut me off and looked at her. "Gee, thanks Zelda drop me in it why don't you." She ignored me and continued to shout accusingly. "I don't know what he's thinking. He's going to have to be in perfect control of his bird to win today." Robert smiled softly and spoke. "Now, now there's no need to worry yourself, Zelda. Though you may have a point. Today's Wing Ceremony tests the skill of the rider as well as his bond to his bird. Victory will not come easily." Robert took his gaze off Zelda for a moment and looked at me while he spoke. "And, as you pointed out, I haven't seen him practicing as hard as some of the other students. Link, my boy, you know as my son you are expected to make an example for the junior knights to learn from you. Zelda, you know better than you to fret about him! But on the other hand.... remember your brother and his Loftwing share a special connection. I've never seen anything quite like it." He looked up at Blu in the sky.

"As you know, each of us in Skyloft is but one half of a pair. We are only made whole by our Loftwing, the guardian birds that the goddess bestows upon each of us as a symbol of her divine protection. When we are young, every one of us meets our Loftwing under the great Statue of the Goddess. It's quite a big moment, as I'm sure you recall. Ahh, but that first meeting between Link and his Loftwing was extraordinary. The bird that came to him was a Crimson Loftwing. It is a breed so rare we were sure for some time that it had vanished from the timeline." Robert looked at me and smiled as I rubbed the back of my head, it was still sore from this morning. Yes, and your brother and his bird seemed to share a profound connection from the moment they met. Do you recall when Link and that Loftwing of his first met? What a sight! The little boy just hopped on that bird and gracefully flew away, without even a moment of instruction. They were meant for each other. And judging by how jealous you were that day. I'd say the friendship he shared with his bird didn't go unnoticed by you, my dear. "

I looked up at the sky as Robert spoke and closed my eyes enjoying the cool breeze. "This contest is nothing to laugh at, Father! This ceremony is part of the final test for those training to become knights of Skyloft! If Link doesn't fly fast enough during the race.... What if Link messes up his big chance....What if he's not allowed to become a knight?" I turned around and looked at the both of them at Zelda's distress as Robert tried to calm Zelda done. "Calm down, my dear. It will be fine. Honestly, it's almost as though you become a completely different person when you worry about your brother." Zelda came rushing up to me much to Robert's surprise. "Listen, Link. You'd better fly your heart out today. At the very least, you need to squeeze in a little practice time before the race!" Zelda grabbed me by the hand and dragged me off. I looked between her and Robert, "hey Zelds I- Robert! help me! She's gonna throw me off the edge!" I heard him chuckle and follow behind us as Zelda pulled me forward towards a ledge. "Zelda. Be gentle with you brother, he can walk himself you know."

We got to the edge and Zelda nudged me forward as Robert stood behind us. I looked back as Zelda as she spoke, "here we are. Go on now. Jump off the edge and call your Loftwing. It's almost time for the ceremony. So try to practice seriously for once!" I looked at as I felt suddenly scared. "Zelds I don't think Ace out there." "Hmm? Oh yeah? You can't sense Ace out there? Oh I get it. You're trying to weasel out of having to practice! Nice try, but you're fooling me." I shook my head vigorously. "Off you go!" She pushed me off the edge without warning as I screamed. "Zelda! Let's talk about this!" I was falling through the sky when I heard Zelda shout. "Ok, Link! Call your Loftwing!" I decided to show her I wasn't lying and turned on my back while falling and whistled for Ace but he didn't come. I was beginning to panic now I looked up at Zelda and Robert who had come forward to see what was wrong and why I haven't been collected by my bird yet. I heard Zelda shout something then I heard her whistle for Blu.

"Hang in there Link! I've got you!" I felt Blu grab me by her talons and she brought the both of us back to the ledge where Robert was seriously concerned and checked us over for injuries. "Are you two all right?" I panted, still shaken from the fall. "I was scared Robert, I though I was a goner." He set his hand on my shoulder. "Your sister wouldn't let you fall to your death you know that. Still, this is very odd Link. What could have possibly happened to your Loftwing? For a bird to ignore the call of his master....It's unheard of!" I got up as Robert spoke. "Link, do not sense Ace's presence at all anywhere at all?" "No Robert, I don't sense Ace anywhere. Why isn't he here?" He shook his head. " I do not know son, but this is still quite the problem and Wing Ceremony is but moments away. I don't know what we are going to do." "Zelda turned to me. "Link, when you said you couldn't sense Ace, well...I should have believed you.....I'm sorry. I need to tend to Blu to make sure she's ok, I'll catch up with you later. You better go on ahead and see if you can find where Ace has gone!"

Just then we heard the bell of the Knight Academy for the start of the Wing Ceremony as Robert spoke to me. "My, how did it get to be so late? If I recall correctly, this year Instructor Horwell is presiding over the ceremony. Link I suggest you go explain the situation to him to see if he is willing to delay the race until you find Ace." Zelda giggled, looking at us. "Father, you're the headmaster of the academy! If Link asks him, he'll just tell him to talk to you about it. Plus Link is your son, the only permission he needs is yours." Robert chuckled and nodded. "Ah, quite true. As usual, you make an excellent point my dear. Very well, I will explain the situation myself. Link, son, run along and tell to come see me in my quarters at the academy." I nodded, "Ok Robert, Zelds come find me later!" I shouted running off leaving Zelda and Robert to go find Instructor Horwell.