Epilogue: The Darkened Sky

Pipit snatched Karane by the hand, sending her heart flying, and together they raced over the bridge towards the Isle of the he released it again however, separating from her as they reached their destination, her spirits plummeted.

`Not that Pipit seemed to notice. "I can't believe the Headmaster is still letting him race,' he grumbled.

"I suppose they don't have any hard proof," Karane said. "And Goddess knows, if he showed any sort of favoritism towards Link, Groose's father would- "

"Groose is a cheater. What he did was dirty and cowardly. He shout beat Link in the air fairly, not by hiding his Loftwing," he muttered. "Zelda said Link's bird was alright?"

"Yes, the bird was fine. Link jumped on him and flew around for a bit before they rang the bell to call everyone down."

By then they'd reached the Plaza, stopping behind where Zelda and her classmates were lined up. Even little Keet had come over from Pumpkin Island to watch with Kina. They were standing next to Orielle and Parrow waiting for everything to start. Karane thought it strange that Zelda was still waiting because usually the Goddess went to the statue ahead of time to watch the race.

"Isn't she supposed to go up?" Karane asked Pipit.

"That's what Peatrice did, and everyone else as far as I know. But you know Zelda. She has her own way of doing things."

Karane nodded, chewing her fingers nervously. If it were Karane in Zelda's shoes, she would have kissed Link weeks ago, or even last night when they were in the classroom together. Zelda had come into her room, breathless and red faced, telling her how she'd basically kissed Link on the ear to wake him up and that they'd stared at each other for the longest time before promising to meet in the morning before the race.

"He promised me, Karane," she said. "He's going to win tomorrow. I know it. Then I can kiss him and we can just…finally be together."

"You could have done that now, wouldn't it have been easier?" she'd asked, but Zelda shook her head. She wanted it to be special, something they would remember forever. The whole thing was a little dramatic for Karane's taste, but if it made Zelda happy she was all for it, especially if it put an end to her and Link's mutual pining.

Of course, she really couldn't criticize Zelda for that. Especially not now as she stood next to Pipit, wanting nothing more than to loop her arms around his neck and kiss him until he was dizzy. She could work up the nerve to hit him with a sword, but kissing him, or even asking him out… the courage to do that still evaded her.

Owlan sent the little yellow Loftwing into the air, then a second later blew an ear splitting whistle. The boys leapt off the island, Link immediately taking the lead on his bright red Loftwing. They headed east at first, then the nestling looped around and flew towards the obstacle course the knights had put up for practice. Zelda raced beside them along the edge of the island, her expression panicked as she watched Link and Groose reach for the statue at the same time. The nestling looped backward and both the boys over shot their target before arcing around to follow.

"Aren't you supposed to be on top of the statue?" Karane asked as she, Pipit, Orielle and Parrow all jogged after her on the path.

"To hell with the statue! I can't see anything from up there!" she shouted back. "Oh, look! Did he get it?"

For a split second it looked like Link was going to claim victory, but then Groose's bird crashed into him and sent Link's Loftwing spiraling out of control. The bird caught itself and Link urged it forward with a fierce shout.

"I can hear Link swearing from here," Pipit laughed as they changed directions again. The nestling had started to rise higher after Groose had almost grabbed the statue off its foot. The bird seemed to be teasing him, dangling the statue just out of reach before taking a sharp dive that Groose and his black monster of a Loftwing had no chance of following.

They'd run past the light tower when Karane heard the Headmaster let out a stream of curses under his breath. "Is that Cawlin throwing eggs?" He asked Owlan.

"I'm afraid so."

"Hylia, curse it," he glowered, though Karane couldn't hear what he said next for the sound of Zelda gasping and shouting next to her.

"Oh, he was so close! Come on, Link!"

"Maybe he's still reeling from being shoved off the island this morning," Pipit teased.

"You stop, I feel so awful about that. I had no idea his bird was locked up, I honestly thought he was skirting practicing."

"How's your bird?"

"He's fine. Tired still but he- Oh! Does he- "

"He's got it!" Karane said gleefully as she saw the Crimson Loftwing swoop under the yellow nestling and Link snatch the green figurine from it's claws. She clapped while Pipit whistled in praise and Zelda shrieked in delight.

"HE HAS IT! He did it! Oh, he's going to be a knight!" She grabbed Pipit by the elbows and shook him then used Karane's shoulders as a boost so she could jump high the air before she ran to the edge of the platform. Karane and everyone else followed her.

"Link!" Zelda cried, her harp curled against her chest as she waved wildly. "LINK!"

"Zelda, don't jump!" Karane shouted simultaneously with Zelda's father. It was too late. Zelda dove off the platform head first and Link barely made it to catch her in his outstretched arms. The Crimson Loftwing sank for a moment, then recovered, screeching joyfully as they flew off toward the Goddess statue. Zelda's Blue followed after them, leaving everyone on the platform behind.

"That was exciting," Pipit said. "It's different being on the other side, isn't it?"

"It was shorter than our race," Orielle noted. "It felt like ours went on forever."

"Well, we had a fairer competition," Pipit said. "I don't care how hard Groose and the others practiced, there was no way they were going to catch that red terror Link has, which is why they had to resort to cheating."

"Yes, well," the Headmaster said, having overheard their conversation as they passed. "Link certainly won't have to worry about them. None of them are graduating up. Cawlin and Stritch don't have the grades and Groose doesn't have the chivalry or sportsmanship."

Pipit grimaced. "I'm sure Cregger-"

"Will be perfectly fine with it if he wants his son to sit another year or remain at the Academy period," the Headmaster muttered. "I have put up with enough bullying and poor conduct from those boys. Having a knight for a father doesn't make you special. Link knew that and it's high time Groose learned as well."

He sighed then and looked towards the statue, smiling a little to himself. "Pass my congratulations onto Link, would you? I expect it will be awhile before I see him," he chuckled.

Pipit nodded, smirking at Karane when the Headmaster was out of range. "I assume Zelda has some grand plan to get things going with him finally?"

"They still haven't gotten together?" Kina said from beside Orielle. Behind her Little Keet looked worried, and Karane wondered how many boys on this stupid island were feather stepping around their obvious feelings for certain girls. Link had been doing it, Groose as well, and apparently Keet had yet to clue Kina in to why he'd taken a job for her father and spent every second with her. Though, by the hopeful look on Kina's face at hearing Link and Zelda had yet to start dating, Karane could tell the torch she carried for Link was still burning.

"Not yet," Pipit confirmed, eyes flicking toward Karane's for a second. "But he's had it bad for her since before she and I dated, probably since before he dated you, Kina. It's going to happen."

Kina scrunched her nose up. "Yeah, I know. Well, tell him I said congrats as well. Should we go, Keet? My dad probably needs us to get back."

"Yeah, yeah… sure," Keet said quietly, following Kina as she walked to the end of the platform. Karane watched them fly off then followed after Pipit as he started to walk towards the Goddess statue.

"If you knew Link had a thing for Zelda, why did you go out with her?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I liked her, and he told me he didn't like her that way so I believed him."

"Come on, Pipit. Don't tell me you didn't know he was lying."

"I honestly didn't. Zelda told me a few times I'm not good at reading people, maybe that's why I didn't pick up on it."

Karane pursed her lips, thinking there was some truth to Zelda's words. As gentlemanly as he was, Pipit could be blunt and obtuse. How many hours had they spent together over this last year? Sparring with each other, sitting alone in class, studying together… she'd dropped so many hints as to how well they got along and how great she thought he was, but he never returned anything more than compliments. She was going to have to be blunt if she wanted to get anywhere with him.

"Hey, um… what are you doing now?" she asked as they walked.

Pipit shrugged. "Nothing much. Heron wanted me to stop by and talk about some stuff for graduation. Has Chenya talked to you?"

"We've been working together some, but she said Manu or Eagus was going to mentor me."

Pipit blanched at this. "They're going to put you with Manu or Eagus? Why?"

"Why not?"

"Well… I just... I don't know. Chenya is good why wouldn't they-"

"Probably because she and Gondo are getting married this summer and might try for a baby soon," Karane said, observing the conflicted look on Pipit's face. A jolt of excitement raced through her. "Why? Does it bother you that I'd be paired with another man?"

"It doesn't bother me. I just… want you to have the best. You deserve that. You're really talented and… you're going to be great. I want to make sure they put you with someone who- Did Zelda just push Link off the statue?"

"She did what?"

Karane barely had time to register what was happening before Link pulled out the sailcloth Zelda had made and floated gracefully to the center of the stone dais. He looked a little bewildered, but it quickly passed when Zelda and Blue landed next to them. Pipit was still snickering.

"She pushed him, like actually pushed him."

"Hylia, save me," Karane groaned. "She must have gotten nervous or something. I can't understand why else… well, clearly he isn't angry about it," she added, noting the smile Link had on his face now. Zelda was blushing, her hands folded together by her waist while she mumbled something so quietly Link had to step closer to hear her.

"Yeah, they're going to be busy for a while. I'll congratulate him later." Pipit laughed before he turned back to her. Their eyes locked and his expression went a little strained, then he sighed. "I'll… see you around, Karane."

Karane wanted to speak but hesitated, debating on chasing after him to see if he wanted to go for a flight around the clouds, or hang out, or find some place quiet and make out…

By the time she worked up the courage to ask, it was too late. Pipit had called for his green bird and taken off into the sky. Karane walked dejectedly back to her room, planning to knit as a distraction until Zelda came back to tell her all about her afternoon with Link.

She'd barely gotten settled and started looping thread around the needles when there was a horrible commotion in the hall. Karane opened the door, watching in shock as Pipit, Eagus, and Albertos carried a limp and unconscious Link through the door and downstairs. The Headmaster and Owlan raced after them and Karane followed, surprised Zelda wasn't hot on their heels.

"What happened?" Zelda's father shouted. "How was he injured?"

"We don't know," Albertos said, a little breathless. "I saw his bird carrying him back, and when I landed in the Plaza he was already out."

"Eagus?"

Eagus shook his head. "He was unconscious when his bird landed. It was screeching at him and kept pointing its beak to the south east. I.. I don't-"

"He's got a pulse, but I can't tell much else," Owlan said, fingers pressed against Link's throat and eyes on the watch at his wrist. "Did he mumble or say anything?"

"No," Eagus said, looking at Pipit who nodded in agreement. "Like we said, his Loftwing was screaming and… we don't know what happened."

"Zelda was with him, she would know," Karane interjected. "Did you ask her?"

Albertos looked to Eagus, who shook his head then turned to Karane. "Zelda… she wasn't with him."

"What do you mean she wasn't with him? Where is she?" the Headmaster asked. "Karane, are you sure-"

"I'm sure," she breathed. "They were under the statue and… they left together, didn't they? She was with him, I know it."

"She's right, I saw them fly off together," Pipit agreed. "But… she wasn't with him when his bird came in. And I haven't… I didn't see her Loftwing anywhere"

Zelda's father went as white as his hair and turned to Eagus and Albertos with a frantic expression.

"Where's my daughter?" he asked, and when neither of them responded he looked to Link's prone figure then back to the knights who'd brought him in. "Where's my daughter?!"

Author's Notes for the last chapter and some of the epilogue can be found on my tumblr, along with an in-progress side story about Link's parents and a few one shots related to this work. Thank you so much for all the comments. I still haven't named the next part but hopefully I'll have a name soon. It should be posted in roughly two weeks. Hope to talk with more of you there and I again cannot thank everyone for all the praise and support, it's meant a lot as I've finished this story.