The Red Thread of Fate (Completed)

Chapter 2

After explaining the situation, Instructor Horwell nodded and agreed. "I see, so the headmaster has summon me. Don't worry about the ceremony just go find your Loftwing, if anyone has an issue with it they'll have your father to answer to. Now go, find him!" I nodded rushing off to look at the plaza to ask people if they had seen Ace as everyone knows what he looks like, he's a crimson Loftwing after all. I walked into the plaza to see Groose and his gang. Groose was another student at the academy and he kinda bullies me a lot and well I take it. I don't want to seem like a wuss just because I could run and tell Robert if I pleased and get Groose in trouble which I think make things worse. They were talking about a crimson Loftwing not going down without a fight, at least I know who knows where Ace is now. Groose' lackies turned round and noticed me and told Groose who turned in shock too. "Whoa! Link! So, uh....yeah. Just how long you been standing there?"

I rolled my eyes and huffed. "Long enough, Groose." He began to circle me as his lackies. Cawlin and Strich stared at me. "What's your problem, anyway? Oh, wait....I got it. You're here to talk about today's race. I can see it in those dopey eyes of yours." He mocked me and mocked me. "You just want to win so you and Zelda can be alone at the top of the Statue of the Goddess at the end of the ceremony." I grimaced and cringed. "Ew, man, she's my sister! And yeah I want to win just to save her from weirdos like you." "Shut up! Whatever. Say, how come I don't see your bird? Where is that scruffy pile of red feathers" I shrugged. "Because you've done something to Ace and you're tell me now." He smirked and spoke. "I can't imagine what could have happened to him. Do you think his tiny brain got all confused by all the clouds and got lost?" I stared angrily at him before smirking myself and chuckling.

"Nice hair. What did you leave the brush in it so it stands up?" He huffed and stared at me with just as much anger. "You lay off my do right now, or I'll flatten you. Everyone knows I've got the slickest pompadour in town." I shrugged. "Why? Is the only reason you're hair is like that so you have something to try and brag about. If you so much as touch me Zelda will come running and I'll tell the headmaster how much you bully me and you see if you can face his wrath." He pointed his fingers at me accusingly. "You know, we're all getting real tired of how you never let anyone forget that you and Zelda grew up together. She's your sister? Big deal. And I ain't scared of your daddy Link. He's not even your real dad, your real parents didn't want you and that's why your so dopey and stupid cause you're a mistake! That's all you'll ever be! Wake up, straighten up and grow backbone already? Dopes like you are dragging our honored academy through the mud!" He punched me in the face cutting my lip and pushed me to the ground hard, I cut my hand also on impact of the concreate.

I laid there as I heard a shout. "Groose! What do you think you're doing?!" She ran over me and help me up, overseeing my injuries. "Oh...Zelda. Hey. Nah, it's...uh..." She flatten my hair and wiped the blood away from my lip and checked my palm before gently rubbing and storming over to Groose, pointing a finger in his face. "You've gone too far this Groose! You're lucky I don't tell the headmaster and have your place at the ceremony taken by someone else! Link is a student at the academy just like you and me, there is no need for that kind of vandalism and violence!" He huffed and turned away as Zelda grabbed my uninjured hand. "I hate to say it but those blockheads know where Ace is and that's not good. We need to start looking as soon as I bandaged that hand and sort that lip." Zelda did as she said and we began to look around town ignoring what people had to say about my hand and lip being injured. Zelda told me to ask the rest of the knights at the academy while she rode Blu around the skies to look.

I found out from Pipit that Fledge had information and it to no surprise had to do with Groose. Zelda was right, he captured Ace and jailed him in and alcove near the waterfall cave. I got a sword from the sparring hall as the cave could be dangerous at times and I didn't want to add to my list of injuries. I headed to towards the waterfall and as soon as I got to the entrance of the cave I could sense Ace's distress, I marched on through only minor thing like creepy crawlies and bats were in the cave but I definitely needed the sword to get through here. As I got to the exit I heard a shout. "Link!" Zelda and Blu came into view and landed beside me. Zelda ran up to me and smiled. "Hey, Link. I was hoping to find you here. So any sign of him?" "I sense him now, that's a start in the right direction at least." She nodded. We headed down further and Zelda shouted. "Look! There he is! Poor thing, hang in there Ace!" I ran up to him and cut the rope that were holding up his wooden prison with my sword. Freed, he took a few step, screeching and stretching out his wings.

He nuzzled my bandaged hand as if he knew what had happened. "Yeah bud, guess we both got it form Groose today." I said, petting his head gently checking him over. He flapped his wing taking of into an test fly. He soared through the sky just fine. I ran to the ledge Zelda behind me. "We should hurry, Link. Now that Ace is free you should fly to the ceremony." Zelda stopped and stared at the white clouds before telling me she's been hearing a voice calling to her lately and it's calling to the surface but she's scared to find out what's beneath the clouds. "Don't worry about that just now! We need to go, jump off the ledge and call for Ace. Don't worry about falling, he'll catch you this time. I nodded, slightly scared and leapt off the edge, Zelda right behind me. I whistled and landed on Ace's back as he swooped and caught me. Zelda and I flew Ace and Blu to the ceremony as Zelda spoke. "Father and the others are probably still worried about you and Ace, so let's go give them the good news!"

We flew back to Skyloft and landed. "Ace seems to be fine for everything the poor guy has been through the morning. I'm going to fly back and tell Father what happened." She ran off and I heard footsteps behind me. "Well, well if it isn't Link! Word around the plaza is you found that dumb bird of yours. Well, that's just great because you and your dumb bird can't tell time, all the prerace warm ups me and the guys did were for nothin'. Now I'm all stiff. We've been waiting forever for the race to start, and they delay it for you? I don't get it. The big flake gets special treatment? You're almost a man, and yet you still can't seem to go anywhere without Zelda. I bet you can't even decide what to have for lunch on your own, huh? And don't think we don't noticed the smug looks. Ooh, Zelda and I are family. We go everywhere together. Ugh!" He mocked. "Groose! What have I told you? You don't want to be in my bad books trust me!" Groose stuttered and flushed again before running of with his lackies wishing me a fair race which wasn't going to happen.

"Looks like it's race time. Good luck, Link!" Zelda hugged me, aware of my injuries and I walked to the ceremony at the plaza. As soon as I got to the Plaza in time for the ceremony, I could the other candidates there all ready as were Instructor Owlan and Robert with the golden Loftwing. I saw Robert   noticed my cut on my lip and the bandaged on my hand, he gave a concerned look and mouth to me to ask if I was ok, I gave him a thumbs up, he didn't seem convinced but let it go as Instructor Owlan begin to spoke. "Your attention, please. At last we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony. I was beginning to worry that we'd have to proceed without Link, but luckily that is no longer a concern. I'm glad you could all make it. Before we start, I'll explain the rules for today's competition. I have attached a small statuette to this bird, who I will release to the skies. On my signal, dash and dive off the ledge. Once you are in the air, mount your Loftwing. Remember to call your bird promptly once you dive off the edge."

"Whoever catches the bird and claims the statuette will be this year's champion. Those are the rules. Simple enough, I should think, but do you need to hear them again?" Everyone shook their heads and I could see Groose smirk and I knew he had something up his sleeve. "Excellent. As you well know, today's champion will graduate to the next class, bringing him one step closer to knighthood. He will also receive a gift from the young woman chosen to play the role of the goddess in this year's ritual. Today is a special day for many reasons, but it is also the 25th anniversary of our fine institution. To celebrate the occasion, today's champion shall also receive his gift high atop the Statue of the Goddess. I hear the young woman performing the role of the goddess this year has crafted the gift herself. And as you all well know, the role of the goddess this year will be performed by our very own Zelda! Let's see your finest flying out there. Show me just how hard you've been practicing. Also, I want to see good, clean flying. Anyone caught interfering with other riders will answer to me!" Instructor Owlan warned as Robert spoke up.

"That goes double for you, Groose!" He yelled as Groose stepped back and nodded timidly. "All right, gentleman, line up. At my command, the competition will begin!" As soon as Instructor Owlan commanded go, everyone was diving of the ledge and mounting their Loftwings. I smiled and whistled for Ace who swooped up in seconds and the race began.