The day that I had been waiting for arrived. It was on that day that Link would get the chance to become an official knight. All he had to do was get the statue of a Loftwing before the others. However, I worried far too much about Link. The thought of him not winning scared me. Not only because I'd be stuck on the Goddess Statue with Groose, but also because Link's dream was to follow the steps of his father and become a knight.

It was early in the morning when I practiced playing the harp Father had given me to play the part of the Goddess. I had just sent my Loftwing to wake Link. I prayed that he would make it here before anyone else came stumbling in like Groose. That would've ruined my whole purpose in coming to the Goddess Statue quietly at the crack of dawn.

As I played the Ballad of the Goddess on my harp, I heard footsteps. Slowly I glanced behind me, a smile coming to my face as I saw Link had come. I hoped he wasn't too mad at me for the wake-up call, but a promise was a promise.

Eventually, he came closer. I was excited as I showed him the golden harp and the wrap I had made. I spun around in my pink dress as I asked him what he thought. Like normal he said very little, but I could see red in his cheeks after I told him I wanted him to be the first person to see me in the dress.

Unfortunately, we had very little time before my father came. He looked a bit surprised that Link was up as he commented on it. I didn't dare tell my father that I had woken him. The best part though was when my father reminded Link that if he won the ceremonial race he'd get to do the postrace ritual with me. My father gave him a stern look, knowing my worry about it. That's when I showed no mercy towards Link as I told my father that Link hadn't been practicing. Link made a sour face, as he felt guilty. We had made a promise a long time ago that when it was my turn to act as the Goddess, Link would earn the spot right beside me. I didn't want to do it with anyone else.

However, my father turned it right back to me as he reminded me of the day Link met his Loftwing. I stared over at Link as I recalled my jealousy that day. Somedays I would wonder if he really would just leave me behind. Deep down, I knew Link wasn't that kind of person. I had my own Loftwing and I could understand that connection.

I couldn't let my father win that easily as I told him it wasn't a joke. I really, really wanted Link to win for himself so we could perform the ritual together as we promised when we first started our training. I wasn't going to let him lose.

Quickly I grabbed onto Link's hand as my father watched me drag him to the closest platform that led off Skyloft. I let go of him once we were there. I messed with him as I moved excitable around him, instructing him to get in some practice time.

That's when he said he couldn't sense his bird. I stopped moving around as I looked into his eyes which were the color of the sky. I chuckled, thinking he was pulling my leg. He panicked as I pushed him off the edge. I watched as he fell, whistling for his bird. I waited with my father, as we witnessed Link fall further and further through the mess of clouds.

Hurriedly I jumped off after him, whistling for my own bird. Thankfully my bird came as I dove down to get Link. I could hear something crack as my bird caught Link and flew us to safety. I stroke my bird, pouring all of my worries over it because I didn't know how to apologize to Link. I should have believed him.

Once he was done speaking over the matter of his Loftwing with my father, I finally apologized for what I had done. He listened to my words and gave no sign of being mad at me. Sometimes I wish he would, even just a little. There were times when I deserved it.

Over at the Academy, the bell rang, waking all the other students. The ceremony was going to begin in less than an hour. Being Headmaster, my father delayed the race to give Link time to search for his Loftwing. I quickly tended to mine so I could help out in the skies.

When I went to find Link before searching for his bird myself, I found him being circled by Groose and his two sidekicks by the light tower. Groose just finished basically calling Link a dope when I decided to make my appearance, satisfied to see that Link didn't back down.

As I approached, I was fuming, despite being proud of Link for getting back at Groose. I pushed Link behind me as I pointed a strict finger at Groose. He backed up, scared of what I might do even though I was a head shorter than him. Suddenly he began to relax as I saw his wheels turning in his head while he stared at me funny. I questioned him once more with as much authority as I could. He snapped out of it as he shrugged everything off, telling us to have a good time finding Link's bird.

I watched with Link as Groose and his two sidekicks flew out on their birds. Without a doubt in my mind, I knew those blockheads had done something to Link's bird. Then I told Link what I had come for. We were going to find his bird! I ran off the edge and called my Loftwing, leaving Link to search on foot.

About thirty minutes later after nothing on the small islands near Skyloft, I went to see how Link was doing. I found him in the lower part where the waterfall ran off. Jumping back onto the soil of Skyloft, he told me that he still hadn't found his bird either. I wouldn't give up hope, knowing that further on was Groose's hangout.

That's when a sound rang off. I looked at the cluster of clouds below Skyloft, noting that was where the sound had come from. It was what truly woke me up at the crack of dawn. Throughout my sleep, I had heard that magical sound from below . . . like it was calling to me.

Looking back at Link, I saw the confusion and worry on his face. Quickly I covered it up. I knew how crazy it would sound if I told anyone that I thought someone was calling for me down below. We continued forward, finding Link's bird trapped with planks of wood encasing it. Using the sword Link had borrowed, he cut the ropes holding the planks up and his bird was free. I watched as it extended out its wings. It really was quite a special bird.

Link stroked its beak then the Loftwing flew off, desperate for flight. Link ran to the nearest pad to watch it fly. Happy for him, I started to run after him, only to stop, as I heard the sound once more. Once it grew dim, I slowly walked to Link.

He looked at me, with his eyes glowing. I loved it when they did it. I smiled, sure that he would win no matter what happened. It was time for the race to begin.

We were about to head off when I heard the sound yet again. I stared down below. I couldn't stop hiding it, at least not from Link. He knew me all too well for that.

"But before you go, I have something to ask you. I . . . I heard this voice a few moments ago. Did you hear it too?" I asked him, feeling crazy already.

His head went down to the clouds, letting me know that he was listening. That he believed me. I could only imagine that he had either heard it or had some other strange experience. similar to mine

"It's been happening a lot lately. It's the strangest feeling . . . Almost like someone is calling out to me," I then asked a stupid question, "Have you ever wondered what's beneath the clouds?"

At some point, every Skyloft child has asked this. The same unsure answers are always given though. No one really knew for certain.

"Some say that it's an empty, barren place, or even that there's nothing at all down below, I just have this feeling that they're wrong. Some of Father's old texts talk about a place called the surface. The old tales describe a whole world under there, far more vast than Skyloft! The thing is, no one's ever been down there to see it, and our Loftwings won't fly through the cloud barrier. But I can't help imagining the wild things that might be waiting below. Someday, I want to see it for myself."

Suddenly I came to the realization that we needed to get going. I promptly told him to call for his bird again, this time allowing him to jump himself. Before he went, he gave me a nod that told me so much. He was going to win. We both fell into the clouds, calling for our birds. From there we headed to the light tower.

When we got there, no one appeared to be around yet for the race. I told Link that I'd be back, thinking that my father was probably still waiting to hear news on Link's Loftwing. When I returned I found Groose talking to Link again. His back was turned towards me as I headed over. Link turned to see me as I winked, wondering how long it would take Groose and his pals to notice I was there, listening to all of it.

"Oh yes, that Sailcloth--Zelda's Sailcloth--will be mine!" Groose said chuckling, "Oh, man, I bet she was thinking about me when she was stitching it . . ."

My eyes drifted to Link's as I rolled them. He silently laughed as we both turned our attention to what Groose was unknowingly saying in front of me.

"Yep, I can see it right now. First, I win the big race, and then Zelda and I finish the ceremony together on the statue. Just the two of us . . . It will be our special moment alone. Nobody is stopping me and Zelda from having our special moment. Oh, it's so real I can . . . I can see it . . ." he said as he chuckled at the end, so proud of himself.

That's when the other blockheads caught sight of me. They looked terrified as they tried getting blockhead number one to turn around. When he did, he had the best expression of disbelief I had ever seen. Trying not to laugh, I put my hands on my hips.

"Care to explain just what you meant by 'our special moment alone'?"

He brushed it off as he stood straight again. He tried using Link as a scapegoat by saying how glad he was that Link had found his bird. He then told me to be watchful of all the dangerous moves he was going to pull during the race. Then he walked off in a march, trying to hide the fact I knew what he was really talking about. Blockheads two and three followed him as I gave them a raised eyebrow.

Looking at Link, I told him of my confidence in him. Then he appeared convinced himself. I smiled, wanting to run up and hug him. However, I was portraying the Goddess, and it didn't seem appropriate. Plus the bell rang for the Wing Ceremony to finally begin.

Once everyone was gathered, Instructor Horwell presented the rules. He also explained that whoever won would be one step closer to knighthood. This also meant they would earn the clothes of a knight. This year's color was green. He didn't mention that though but instead told them that they'd earn a gift from me. He announced my name, turning all attention to me.

Noting Link's bashfulness as he looked my way along with everyone else, I couldn't help but giggle. As Horwell began to speak again, everyone besides Groose turned their attention to him. My confidence in Link winning only grew from there as I couldn't imagine myself atop the statue with Groose.

My father suddenly shouted at Groose, who made that same face of shock when he found what I was behind him earlier. I was glad my father wasn't taking it easy on him. After that, the race began and the four boys ran off, calling their birds.

I watched as closely as I could, grateful for the bright crimson color of Link's Loftwing. I don't think I would be able to follow where he was if it was another color. He seemed to be struggling and dodging things.

Going to my father, I asked, "Is it possible there's some cheating going on up there?"

My father looked down at me, "A one-hundred percent chance. But look . . ."

I stared up at the sky, seeing how close Link was. Then he was flying towards us. A smile came to my face as I couldn't contain my excitement or wait for him. I dashed right off the platform, free-falling. Link's eyes widened as he urged his bird to go faster, catching me.

He started to fuse over me as my head wasn't looking in his direction. I lifted it happily, telling him I was fine. I was more than fine. I was thrilled! We had made it to the moment we promised we'd achieve.

With my bird flying behind us, we flew to the Statue of the Goddess. It was nice flying with Link so close to me. We had only done something like that before I got my own Loftwing.

Carefully Link helped me down as we stepped on the platform on the statue where the goddess' hands were. Our two birds circled around us as we started the ritual. I took the small statue Link had gotten during the race and offered it to the Goddess. I proceed to take the harp out, playing the Ballad of the Goddess.

Once I was done, I turned back to Link who waited for me. I silently extended my arm out to him. He placed his hand on top of it and then got down to his knees. I closed my eyes, reciting the words others have said countless times before me.

"Great goddess, guiding light and protector of our people, grant us your blessing and mercy as I act in your stead during this ceremony," then I said the words she would've said, "Valient youth who grasped the victory at the celebration of the bird folk. In accordance to the old ways, I now bestow the blessings of the goddess upon you."

Dropping my hand from Link's, my hands went behind my back as I untied the cloth I had made. I neatly folded it up just as Link lifted his head to see if the ceremony was over. I laughed as I extended the cloth out to him.

"The blessings of the goddess drift down from the heavens aloft a sail, which I now pass on to you."

Link took the cloth from me when I finished the lines of the Goddess. Abruptly he lifted the sailcloth like he practically did for everything. It brought a smile to my face as I had to remind him that I was acting as the Goddess right at that moment.

I went on to tell him why I made my gift a sailcloth. It is said in the old texts that the Goddess had given her own hero the same gift. It felt right to have it be mine as well.

"I'm really glad I got to give it to you, Link. Make sure you take good care of it, OK?" I said as he gave me a nod, then I brought us both to the past as I said, "Thanks for making it up here to do this with me today like you promised, Link."

He nodded again, making me smile. We were only twelve when we made that promise. It was the day we witnessed a Wing Ceremony. I knew that at one point we would both have to be in one. It was a two-way promise. If I got chosen for the Goddess, Link would compete that year.

"Now we really should finish up this ritual," I said, getting closer to him, "You . . . do know what happens at the end, right?"

He shifted a little and uttered something that I recognized as an uh-oh. I made a face, recalling the time I had overheard what Groose thought would happen. That little, what was it, a peck on the cheek? It made me wonder if Link had overheard this as well.

"And just what are you thinking? Don't be silly. This is your big moment, Link," I said, giving no hints on purpose.

I moved closer to him, as our eyes met. He looked a bit uncomfortable, making it clear he probably had heard the rumor. I began to wonder what he would've done if it was true . . . if that was the case, there'd be no way I would've allowed Groose to win.

Letting him panic for a while longer, I turned him around and shouted, "You have to jump off the statue!"

He looked down below him as I explained where he had to land in order to complete the ceremony. I then slightly dared him to wait last second to open the sailcloth. I didn't expect him to, but I also didn't expect him to jump on his own. So I pushed him off the edge for the second time that day.

He wailed on his way down, but in the end, he landed it perfectly. Well, sort of. I came down on my bird and by some miracle, he still wasn't mad at me. Instead, he smiled at the sight of me as I dashed over to him.

"That was perfect! You're amazing, Link!" I praised him.

He beamed, looking at me in a different way than before. My eyes dropped to the ground as I began to think how much had changed from when we were little. It was in a good way, of course.

Becoming the bashful one, I slowly said, "You know, Link, seeing as how you won today . . . And with the weather being so nice . . ."

My eyes drifted back to his as he listened to my words intently. I couldn't believe it had become so hard for me to ask him something as simple as going out for a ride on our Loftwings. I even stumbled a little and made excuses, like the weather.

"You think maybe you'd like to, you know, go fly around the clouds together?"

I watched as he smiled that wonderful smile at me. Then he gave his cute silent nod, first helping me up on my Loftwing before getting on his. We took off to the skies.

I am going to stop here for the sake of this not becoming longer than it already is! I hope you enjoyed this. Skyward Sword Link is probably my favorite when it comes to his reactions and whatnot. Vote, comment, and I'm starting to think I should limit it to three other Zelda games and briefly go over the others.