Disclaimer: I will not, do not, will never (Unfortunately) have a hand in or own Zelda and all the wonderful things that go with.

A/N: Sorry for the long hiatus, it was not intended but happened none the less.

Chapter 5

To my mind, though I am native here

Cleaning my blade I began to wonder if my help would truly be needed in this quest at all. After having left the light and protection of the Sacred Temple, Link and I had set out into the darkness that was Faron Woods. It had been a quiet start, a simple trudge through the snowy woods to meet up with Zelda who hopefully had not gotten too far ahead. But even if the intention had been to quietly sneak through the forest somehow the journey had turned into a blood bath.

"First time?" Link asked as he looked my way having already cleaned his blade and was holding his torch ready.

Wiping the last flecks of blood from the gleaming blade I glanced behind us and stared at the dead forms of what I had come to learn were bokoblins. Two lay headless from where Link had quickly dealt with them and one was run through, courtesy of me. Ignoring the odd feeling bubbling up in my gut I turned back to Link. "First creature that seemed capable of thought." I responded as I sheathed my blade.

Link made a sympathetic sound as he took the lead. "I don't know if this will make you feel better or not Pipit, but it does get easier." Motioning for me to follow he began to pick his way through the brush and trees.

"Easier to kill?" I asked, trying to focus only on the torch and the light around us. Somehow I had imagined the dark to not be so encompassing, so complete. Amazing how one learns what true darkness is only when they can't leave it.

"Killing? No, but you do learn to look at it much differently. Instead of thinking of something you killed, think of a life you probably saved. That's what makes it easier." He responded, pulling my eyes away from the darkness I had somehow found myself staring at and back to him.

"And how many lives have you saved?" I stopped as Link stilled in place, refusing to look back. His shoulders squared as he lifted the torch to peer through the dark.

"Too many, but not enough."

-00-

I woke to a subdued grey, surrounded by cold white that covered the ground and trees as well as everything in between. Not the best way to wake up in the morning but considering the way the night had progressed it was better than not waking at all.

"Finally up?" Glancing up I saw Link leaning against a tree, blade in hand and Fi hovering close by. Ignoring the blue spirit I focused on the hylian, noting the faint circles around his eyes and the dull blue his eyes had taken on. Dull, but still searching and seeking as if convinced they had to know everything they saw.

Pulling my gaze away I stood from the cold ground and stretched and felt every soreness and bruise that had yet to heal. "You should have slept more." I pointed out as I rummaged through my pack for the medical supplies. Nothing like strenuous exercise to damage old wounds. The headmaster would have a fit right now if he could see me.

Stripping down quickly so as not to freeze Link watched as I rebadged and reapplied salve to the bruises. "So how did you get those anyway?" He asked, ignoring my earlier comment. Shaking my head I let it slide for the moment but promised myself to return to it later.

"I assume Zelda explained how she ended up here on the surface?" At his nod I continued. "Well, I was knocked from my Loftwing as well, but I was caught before I fell through the clouds. Unfortunately, the rescue was a bit rough as you can see." Quirking a smile I finished tying the bandage and shivered.

"How you can fly on such thing amazes me. I wouldn't." He muttered, shuddering lightly.

Smirking at the thought of Link fearing such a simple task as flying I pulled my tunic back on before I broke the bad news. "You will have to ride one, actually. That's the only way we can get you back to the main island to open a true barrier." Link's face turned a bright green, complementing his already green ensemble of rough dyed wool tunic and cloak. "Ask Fi if you want." I supplied snapping the cloak around my shoulders and fitting the pack on my back carefully.

Standing still for a moment Link called for Fi, not giving her the chance to fully appear before he asked "Do I really have to venture to the surface and fly on one of those supposed oversized birds?" His voice belied the panic his face was masking.

Fi paused before replying. "What Sir Pipit has said is true; you will have to journey to the surface and open a more permanent portal. I am able to open a small nonpermanent portal, which you will have to pass through to reach the sky, but I would be unable to sustain it for a long period of time. In fact as soon as we find Zelda it may behoove us to return to the sky and do so."

"But," Link glanced between Fi and I "How do we get up there? And better yet, I have no loftwing, so once I get up above the clouds I would just fall back down."

Nodding I raised a hand to cut him off. "I spoke to the headmaster about that. While I'm not sure how to get back up into the sky, my loftwing should be able to hold you in its talons. If you must travel back and forth between the sky and surface..." It hadn't really been a point of interest since our first priority had been to find Zelda and bring her home. Now…

Now we had a whole new set of troubles I realized as I looked at Link. "Fi, would he need to move back and forth between the two places?"

Fi considered the question a moment as Link waited in tense silence. "I have no definite knowledge but gathering from what little information I have, I assume that yes, Master Link will have to travel between the two realms." Fi finished before flashing blue and returning to the blade.

"Well." Link gave a long sigh and shrugged his shoulders in a helpless manner. "Either way, finding Zelda is first priority. Let's start with that and then think about things from there." Nodding in agreement we left camp and ventured further into the woods.

-00-

Link glared hard at the map in his hands, knowing that somehow he had to get both himself and Pipit to the light mark drawn on the map for the second rest point. But every few hours they would run into a stray Keese, or small groups of Bokoblin. While both were easily managed the duo were running out of steam to keep moving forward and with each fight they had to slow down more until they had finally stopped.

"So, not good?" Pipit asked, peering at the map that was held between clenched hands. He understood the basics of the map and how it worked as there were a few maps in Skyloft to teach children about the islands but they never were as vast and detailed a the one Link now held. Paths snaked all around the woods, twisting and twinning to places like Floria and in the top right corner was labeled Skyview Temple, the place that Zelda was supposed to have gone. Currently the path they were on said that they were more than halfway and the tree marking the entrance to the first of the temple grounds could be seen soaring above them; but no matter how long they walked the tree seemed to never get any closer.

Sighing Link rolled the map up and placed it back in his belt and was silent a moment before addressing Pipit. "We're both tired and the next safe place to sleep is a few miles in that direction." Link pointed to think brush. "Now, we could take the short way and attempt to blaze a trail through there or we could go the long way, "he pointed to a path "which wouldn't be as strenuous but the path is more likely to have Bokoblin patrolling though."

Pipit bit his lip in thought, looking at the two options placed before them. True, both of them were tired and Pipit was starting to feel the strain on his wounds both new and old. They hadn't hindered him yet, but in the next skirmish it wouldn't take much to cause a stumble or mistake. "It might be best if we take the brush. If we have to stay low we have places to hide, and since it is so thick the snow won't be as high underneath the brush which will make it easier if we have to stop before we reach the next camping place."

Nodding Link pulled his cloak closer. "No fire, but that seems to matter little now since there are too many enemy encampments around here. I don't think we want to signal them to our location even if it's hard to reach."

"Agreed."

Glancing at each other, Link groaned in annoyance and started toward the thicket with Pipit following behind. The brush was thick, and thorns traced up and across their path more than once, forcing Link to pull out his small eating knife and use it on the rope like vines. It was a tedious job but soon they were moving at a good pace, although not as fast as Link had hoped.

"I don't think well make it to the designated spot." Link muttered after cutting another vine. "It's getting too dark too see and we can't use a torch in this, unless we want to burn down the entire area."

Grunting Pipit forced passed a small bush. "Appealing." Was all he managed. His ribs were aching enough from his breathing, adding speaking was enough to make him want to lie down and not get up for a while. He gathered this was the pushing himself beyond what he should have that Owlan and Gaepora had warned him of. It was amazing how the thought of the two older Hylians sitting up above him was almost too surreal to believe but wandering through a vast snow filled forest had somehow become the norm.

The silence stretched on between the two, cut only by the occasional pause to cut a vine to entangled to pass and the sound of plants creaking as the lost support from the ropey tendrils. It continued until Link paused a moment before holding his hand up. He tilted his head a little before tensing. "Wait here." His voice was quiet and stern, eyes focused ahead as he ducked under a mass of vines and disappeared nearly as soundless as the falling of the snow.

Reaching for his Sword Pipit prayed they hadn't stumbled into another fight, but readied his weapon all the same as silently as possible. Minutes stretched on as he stood still with his breath fogging the air, waiting for some sign of sandy hair as the light dimmed lower with the setting of the sun above the clouds. All around was a silent white with no other sounds of life beyond a quiet murmur of insects higher in the trees.

All in a moment the silence was broken with the crunch of snow and the rustle of branches a few meters ahead of where Pipit stood. Readying his sword he prayed it was just Link returning from wherever he had left to and not some other creature that had decided to take advantage of his weakened state.

Apparently hearing his prayers sandy hair and green became visible as Link came into view and not the telltale signs of red skin the bokoblin sported. "Hey, I found something you'll want to see. Come on, it's safe." Link spoke in a quiet tone gesturing to Pipit through the vines for him to duck under and follow. "Sorry for leaving, I just had heard something and wanted to know if we needed to lay low for the night." Link explained as Pipit joined him.

"Not a problem." Pipit followed Link as best he could, ducking between trees and vines until it opened up into a small clearing that held a two stone statues. One looked like a stone loftwing on a pedestal and the other a brown humanoid creature caught in the middle of his travels.

"Oh, so this is your traveling companion. My, he does look a might bit different than you, if I may say. So dark!" The statue of the traveler voiced, moving enough for Pipit to realize that is was not indeed a statue but a living creature. "My name is Gorko, and I have been traveling these woods for some time and have yet to come across any other living thing, besides those red creatures with bad tempers. When your friend here popped out in all green I was worried he too would try to skewer me! But as luck would have it he tells me he's a Hylian and that he meant no harm!"

Pipit frowned and glanced over at Link before turning his attention back to the creature, Gorko. What little of its back he could see in between packs was dark and pitted like stone, but the face and front were like leather lightly browned. "What…?" Unsure of what to say he waited for someone to explain this addition to the strange world he found himself in.

Catching the confusion Link stepped up and explained. "He's a goron, a mountain tribe of people. The few we know of are scholars."

"And I'm just in the middle of a big find!" Gorko cut in, feet stamping in the snow as he rushed to explain. "See this stone? It was left by the Goddess and is said to be important. From what my research has yielded, it has something to do with the land above this realm and the Hero! Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Pipit opened his mouth but was cut off by a quiet cough from Link. "I –er… Well, no, I guess not." Cringing as his body reminded him of why he wanted to stop Pipit searched for a place to sit.

"Oh, but there's more. In relation to the world above it is said to have perfect weather, healing waters, and all the food you could want. It sounds perfect doesn't it!?" Gorko continued, crossing his arms as he nodded. "You want to know all about it now don't you?"

"Actually I would just like to rest." Pipit answered, deciding that were he stood was good enough.

"Hey, don't do that." Link grabbed Pipit's arm before he sat. "You'll just get cold and wet. Give me a minute." Setting Pipit against the statue of the loftwing Link unsheathed his sword and sliced at a few low fir branches. "See? Put theses down and you won't sit directly in the snow." Setting the branches down Link arranged them so the snow could barely be seen between the needles. "And by the way, you should have said something if you were feeling that tired." Link scolded lightly.

Huffing Pipit removed his pack and leaned it against the statue. "I can take care of myself, thanks. But you were saying?" Pipit asked Gorko, not really caring what he had to say but figured it would work well as a distraction from the cold.

Gorko took a quick breath but paused. "Well, that's all I really know as of right now. See, my specialty is the Goddess and things that pertain to her. It wasn't realized until recently that theses statues might have something to do with any of that."

"How do you know?" Link asked. "I mean, even I have seen a few all around the forest. We all just figured that they were part of some outposts or something from the war."

"Oh no! See, recently they have started to glow a little. You can't see now but if you catch it in the right light…" Gorko trailed off as he considered the statue.

"Hn." Link shrugged and returned his attention to Pipit. "Do you want to stop for the night? It probably would be best since there are three of us here and it's most likely the best we will find in this light." Nodding tiredly Pipit closed his eyes a moment as he focused on the feeling of the cold stone against his skin.

Sharing a look with Gorko Link shrugged and removed his pack, setting next to Pipit's on the branches. Next he moved to unbuckle his sheath from his back, arm brushing the statue as he leaned his sword against it. At that moment the statue flared to life sending a bright red beacon high into the sky, accompanied by a sharp gust of air upward. All three stumbled away from the statue but it continued to glow even as the beacon receded.

Gorko recovered first, rushing back to the stone and began to study it. "It reacted to your touch! Amazing! I wonder what caused-"

"Now is not the time for that." Pipit snapped. "In case you missed, we just sent out an invitation to anything and everything in these woods that might want us dead." Forcing himself up he quickly donned his sword and shield, ignoring the protest of sore muscles.

"We need to leave. Now." Link was hauling up his pack and sword when a sharp screech sounded close to where they stood. "Gods be damned, they are already here. Gorko, can you fight?"

The Goron was standing next to the statue, eyes wide with sudden fear. "No, I'm just a scholar."

"Well you had best find a way to defend yourself seeing as how we can't run. Use your fists, they look strong enough." Link dropped his pack and unsheathed his sword and readied his shield. "Pipit, are you able to fight?"

"What have we been doing all day?" Pipit grimaced, lifting his own shield. "I'll do what I have to."

Nodding Link faced the direction the shout had come from, hearing the sounds of many feet rushing through the snow. "Well everybody, be ready."

-00-

Zelda stared at the place the light had been seconds before, hands clutched tight to her chest. "What was that?" She asked, afraid of any answer. Their trek through the woods had been a quiet one with only a few minor battles that Gwin handled.

"I'm not sure. But we should probably keep moving in any case." Gwin responded eyes also fixed on the sky. "We're almost to the temple and we don't want to be caught in the woods at darkfall. Come on." Urging the girl forward Gwin gave a final glance back, praying that the feeling in his stomach was wrong.

-00-

The bokoblin came rushing into the small clearing numbering ten strong and all were armed with weapons of sorts. Some carried staves and other held swords in various states of decay but all Link saw was ten monsters he had to fight and defeat. With a roar he charged into aiming for the head of the first bokoblin in his path, sinking low to avoid the blade swung at him. It gave a shriek as his blade passed along its throat, not quite severing it but close enough to kill.

Nine.

Link heard Pipit grunt as he went for his first monster, sword slicing through air as it aimed for a fatal blow. A dance of steel ensued as each vied for dominance.

Gorko's fists had come up and were fending off a staff wielding creature. As the staff struck the goron felt his rage climb until he grabbed the staff and snapped it in half and then plunged the fragments into the target.

Eight.

Link raised his shield to one monster as he attacked another, praying that nothing came up behind. With a smash of his shield one Bokoblin went sprawling, allowing him to land a blow on the one in front of his sword. Not fatal, but deep. A sharp pain bloomed at his side.

Pipit smashed one bokoblins head in, blood and other liquids spilling out to stain the snow. He then turned to the one on his right and sliced and ear of the one he had been dueling.

Seven.

Gorko let out a cry and his arm was cut. His hands snaked past the sword and wrapped around the creatures throat. A gurgle and a snap was all the noise it gave before it crumpled to the ground un a heap.

Six.

Link cried out as another blade sliced through his skin, but his own sword found its mark in the heart of another enemy. His shield sent another back, just a moment so he could breathe.

Five.

Pipit raised his blade and struck hard, loping an arm clean off then running his blade through the body. He spun to meet another blade aimed at his back and caught it with his shield. Swords crossed as each vied for a disarming blow. Pipit held his sword as the steel shivered from the blows.

Four.

Gorko let out a bellow as two monsters rushed him, a sword in each of their hands. Knocking aside one blade he felt the other rip through his pack as he gripped the sword arm of the bokoblin and snapped it. Holding the arm he swung around and crashed the monsters together, the sword of one impaling the other.

Three.

Link caught the Bokoblin with the edge of his shield and twisted, sending it to the ground. His blade ran through its stomach, pinning it to the snow and earth as the light faded from its eyes.

Two.

Pipit finally disarmed his opponent and pushed forward, blade cutting cleanly through the throat of the creature. Its head landed a few inches from its body.

One.

Gorko stared at the bloody mess, one Bokoblin still alive through all the broken bones and fallen swords. With one last enraged growl the goron advanced and closed his hands around its throat and squeezed.

Done.

Sinking to the snow Link surveyed the dead surrounding them. In what had felt like years, even if it had only been seconds, they had won. Looking up he saw Pipit and Gorko standing near. Up? Why up… Opening his mouth to ask Link felt the world tilt and crash. He felt the cold seep through his clothes and into his skin, burning his face with the sudden shock as the temperature of his skin dropped. It was cold.

He felt warmth as suddenly as he had felt the cold, but with the warmth came a spinning sensation as his view was moved from the battlefield to a face framed by branches. A face that was moving, speaking perhaps.

"Link?" Pipit's face spoke, mouth forming the words over and over in various tones.

"Hn?" The mouth stopped moving and the face tilted away. A large stony face entered his view and it began to speak as well. Unable to focus his eyes drifted to the trees and the statue which was still pulsing a subdued red like a heartbeat.

"Well then where?!" The voice shattered the haze, bringing Link back to the two faces hovering above his own. He noticed the panic on Pipit's and the grave expression on the other. And then came the pain.

With a gasp Link tried to curl onto his side but found a hand clamped around him, pressing down on the point that the pain radiated from.

"We have to find a healer, something! Red potion will only fix some of this! It can stitch his skin together but not replace blood or repair inside." Pipit sounded angry. Link supposed he should be too, if he could think about it long enough.

"I haven't seen anyone of the sort around here." A deeper voice responded. "What if he ingested the potion?"

"We don't have enough. If he drinks it the potion will be diluted throughout the entire body! Damn it! Link, is there any villages close to here?"

Hearing his name Link focused hard for a moment. He couldn't remember…Shaking his head Link closed his eyes as the world was sent spinning once again.

"Bring me my pack; I'll have to try something." Pipit glanced down at Link as Gorko retrieved the pack. The pale face was now as white as their surroundings and no matter how hard he pressed red still leaked out into the snow around them.

"If you die on me before we have even started this quest…" Pipit muttered as he cast his eyes around the clearing before finally settling on the statue.

"Here." His pack placed in front of him Pipit stared at the statue a moment longer.

"I have an idea." He said suddenly. "Here, keep pressure on this, I'll be back." Shifting the now still form of Link over to Gorko, Pipit headed for the statue and touched it. Nothing. "Remember how it lit up when Link touched it? And the gust of wind?" Pipit asked glancing over his shoulder as his mind raced. "You said these things were related to the Goddess and her Hero right?"

"Sure, but I don't think this is the time-"

"Just go with this. I need to find a way to keep him with me, tied, so I can use my hands." Pipit ripped open Links pack and searched. "Rope." He pulled a coil out.

"And what will that accomplish?"

"Just help me!" Moving to his own pack Pipit pulled out his coil and the sailcloth as well as bandages.

"Alright." Gorko muttered, carefully cradling the now unconscious Link closer.

Uncoiling the rope Pipit moved to Links side. "Alright. I need his sword and what you see here." Taking Links sword he sheathed it then moved on to the ropes. "I need you to help me make sure he is securely fastened to me. Then I need you to take our packs to the temple. Lay low there. You'll be fine." Pipit rattled off. "The bokoblin will be coming again, either because of the light or to find this missing party. Either way, we need to move. Link will come with me. Up. You got to the temple. Got that?"

"Up?" Gorko asked as he and Pipit began to dress the wound quickly.

"That gust is going to carry us up to where I can get him help, okay? Now help me get him on my back, that's the only way I can function." Pipit Squatted down and grabbed Links arms and pulled them around his neck. "Now tie his hands together and then tie him to me."

Shaking his head Gorko began the process of tying and knotting while Pipit stood still, holding Link up while Gorko finished. Warmth spread out onto his back but Pipit forced himself to focus on not moving and letting the goron finish the task. "There, all the rope is used." The goron stood back. "But I still don't get what this will accomplish."

"Just gather the packs and leave as soon as we're up." Pipit responded, attaching Links sword to his belt. "Remember, head to the temple. The map there should lead you there." At Gorko's nod Pipit opened his sailcloth.

"You just need to touch this thing okay?" Pipit said, hoping Link could hear. Sailcloth ready he moved so that Link barely brushed the stone. The expected gust whipped around him, filling the sailcloth and pulling him up into the sky with a bright flash of red.

"Fi, now's the time for that opening!" Pipit called over the wind as they rushed toward the clouds.

A chime was the only answer he heard before the sky was ripped open with a crack above them as they soared up toward the thick barrier. Counting the seconds Pipit kept his grip on the cloth as they climbed closer to the clouds, praying that the gust would hold out long enough for them to reach the sky above, that Link would stay connected to him, and most importantly that his loftwing would respond to his calls if they did make it above the clouds.

"We should be breaching the cloud barrier soon." Fi reported.

"Just hold on Link." Closing his eyes Pipit felt the change in temperature as they shot through the clouds, warmth making the heavy clothing he was wearing uncomfortable. Suddenly the air opened up around him and the burst of wind beneath him began to die, signaling the time to call his loftwing. Taking a deep breath he let out a sharp whistle as the last of the wind died, leaving them floating for a moment before they started to slowly drop back down to the closing barrier.

Seconds passed and Pipit kept his eyes fastened to the darkening sky, waiting for the sound of feathers in the wind or a flash of feathers. Then from behind he heard the sound of wings in flight before his bird appeared below him waiting for Pipit to mount. Letting lose one side of the sailcloth Pipit reached for the harness and latched on. "Thank you." He whispered to his bird. "Now take us home." Straining slightly under the weight of two passengers his Loftwing rose into the air and shot toward Skyloft.

-00-

It was too bright. That was the entirety of my thoughts as I woke in a soft bed, covered head to toe in sheets and blankets with the warmth soaking in deep. I must have stayed late at Imara's or Saria's, since both were the only ones I knew would keep the house this warm although usually it was not so bright…

Peeling my eyes opened I was greeted with green walls and a wardrobe before my eyes began to water from the light. Clamping my eyes shut I tried to place the room but couldn't find and match in my memory so I started to sit up to investigate until I realized I couldn't; not without knives cutting deeply into my side.

Eyes open I blinked back the wetness and squinted past the light as I located the blanket over me and pulled it down. It only took a moment for me to find the source of the pain, as white bandages cross crossed over my abdomen covering a thick gauze pad attached to the offending side. Oh right, the Bokoblins. A creaking door caught my attention and pulled my gaze away from the sea of white that for all I knew was keeping all of my insides where they belonged.

"Hey, you're up." Pipit pushed into the room dressed in his bright yellow tunic, similar to the one I had first met him in.

"Where am I?" My voice croaked out making even me flinch.

Moving to my side Pipit picked up a pitcher and poured a small cup or water. "Here." He offered me the cup as he took the seat that had been placed by the bed. "You're in a spare room in the Knight's Academy. This was the only bed that we could find on quick notice that would keep people from being suspicious. We didn't want people coming in and out after hearing about you and disturbing your sleep." He explained as I slowly drained my cup.

"Knight's academy?" Zelda had mentioned that as the place she had lived at with her father and friends. "As in above the clouds?" My voiced cracked again but not because of dryness. At his nod I sank lower into the sheets. "How…?"

Pipit sighed before he sat back. "It was the statue of the loftwing. After it lit up the Bokoblins attacked, remember?" At my nod he continued "Well, you were wounded. Badly. We didn't know what to do, but then I remembered how when you touched the statue it sent a blast of air upwards. I figured it might just be what we needed to get above the clouds. It was the only thing I could think of and from what I gather that must be what they were for, a quick transportation between sky and earth."

Letting his words sink in I took a breath. "So, these things really are keeping my innards…in." I asked, wrapping my arm carefully around my side.

"Well, they were at first but we managed to heal it closed for the most part. The damage inside was what took the longest but that should be fully healed. You need to stay here for a day of so more before they will even be able to get up and look around. After that another two or three days, assuming you take your medicine, you should be healed well enough… enough to continue." He finished.

"Oh." Glancing back down at the white adorning my side I tried to imagine what the wound had looked like. "And you?" I asked, ripping my gaze away from my side as a strangely vivid image of blood soaked snow and shredded clothing came into focus.

"Gorko and I were fine. Just you." Pipit explained, coming to rest his arms on the bed. "And before you ask I sent Gorko with our stuff to the temple. Whether or not he actually went… Well, we can hope." Nodding he sat back in his chair and waited, but for what I wasn't sure. It felt like being scolded from a senior forester even if he had yet to blame or question anything I had done leading up to the incident in the woods.

"Ah. Sounds like you were very thorough." I stumbled over the words, unsure of what to say. Because of me we now had a huge setback, Zelda having probably gone far out of our reach by now if we were lucky. If not I might have caused the death of the only one who could stop the demon king from rising, if the legends were true. "Sorry." The word sounded hollow and pointless but somehow eased so of the tension.

Sighing Pipit shook his head. "Well, there is nothing we can do about it now. But on the positive side of things, you can now open a portal through to the surface. One that will still open so we don't have to repeat this stunt." He cracked a small smile as he reached for the pitcher to pour another cup of water. "Here, you'll probably want this."

Taking the cup back I took a few small sips and allowed my mind to settle. "Considering all things I suppose I am the princess this time around." I yawned, forcing myself to sit higher in the bed. While I may have beaten more enemies I assumed the near death would subtract any positive numbers in terms of our bet.

"Hey, don't go pushing yourself yet. Gaepora would have my head." Pipit half stood, leaning over to help me sit up. Arranging my pillows just so, he stopped and stared at my face a moment before looking away and finishing his chore.

"You keep doing that." I noted.

"Doing what?" A slight red crept up in between the freckles on his face.

"Being motherly. I can take care of myself." I answered, confused at the sudden flush of color.

"Oh…I- Well, I just don't want Gaepora's wrath to come down on my head is all." He explained, arms crossing in defense.

Raising a brow I ignored the weak explanation but moved on anyway. "So, above the clouds. It's bright."

Red receding from his face Pipit took to the change of topic quickly. "Yeah, but this is only morning. The sun hasn't come up completely so… It's going to be brighter."

"Brighter? I never realized it was so light up here." I mused as I thought back to our first meeting in the glen near the village. The column of light Pipit stood in had been bright but not so much as this light creeping up into the room.

"Well, your window is open so you are getting a full dose." He pointed to a window I had yet to notice. "And when it's fully up the sun will come in and then you'll be able to see what a world looks like with sun."

As strange as it was the idea was exciting. "So, I can't leave this room today." I stated, watching what I assumed to be sunlight creep closer to my window as I crawled across the ground and painted the sky a pale blue.

"Don't even think about it." Pipit muttered, arms crossed again as he entered what I decided was the mother mode.

"No, I was just confirming. Anyway, where's my sword?" The thought occurred as the light crept across the windowsill that I hadn't seen nor felt Fi or the strange aura the blade seemed to possess.

"It's safely tucked away in Gaepora's office. No one can go in there without him since he locks it so we figured I would be the safest place." He explained.

"Why does it need to be locked up?" I asked. "Would someone really want to steal it?"

Pipit paused before he shook his head. "No, it's just… You see, up here we have knights who handle the small problems that stir up and even then the monsters only come out at night. Most people don't even know how to use a blade. So..."

"And people can't know I'm here because that would upset things." I finished. If a blade was a catalyst then my being here was a shockwave.

"We've come up with the story that your Gaepora's nephew since you look so much like Zelda. We told everyone you had come to give condolences and be with the family because of Zelda's accident and ended up in trouble yourself." Pipit shrugged.

"Well, I guess the only thing for me to do is get better and get home." The sunlight had finally made its way into the room, casting a bright square on the floor that seemed to alive to be real.

"First we have to figure out how to get back to the surface, something I imagine Fi knows how to do since she kept talking about opening a hole in the clouds. Second we need to make sure what happened doesn't become a repeat somewhere along the line since I don't think we will be so luck as to find a loft statue any time we run into trouble. And third we need to know how long this quest will take and what we need to do to accomplish it. Your guardian seemed to have a good idea but sent us off so fast we didn't hear any of it. Ironic considering how things turned out. Either way, we have too many variables right now so I suggest we focus on only one." Pipit shook his head. "And I think it should be getting you better and back down to the surface."

Nodding I contemplated the colors outside my window and felt disappointment creep up as I realized I would only be able to enjoy this place for three days. "We should worry about that once I do what Fi told me I should. Open the barrier. We may find more clues once that's done. And I have to get to that temple." A supplied as my mind raced over the many things I had to do in the next few days. "Re supplying would be a good start, just in case Gorko left everything behind."

Humming in agreement Pipit joined me in thoughtful silence that seemed to echo passed the room and out into the sky beyond. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't seem to place how I was supposed to feel at a moment like this. Only a few days ago my greatest worry was getting home alive from a bad patrol and now I was tasked with somehow ridding the world of a demon king with the help of a woman I had only met a few days prior. Sinking deeper into the strange world my mind conjured up I fell into a daze that was all encompassing and wasn't until Pipit leaned over me that I realized my eyes were closing.

"I've been here too long, you need some rest. Plus my mother will want to see me." I nodded, too tired to respond or even fuss as he helped lower me down into my bed. "Want me to close the window?" Shaking my head I burrowed under the covers and relished the heat. "When you're color returns you probably will be singing a different tune." Pipit smirked, standing and stretching before he moved to leave.

"Oh, and by the way," he paused, hand on the door handle, "Well do a rain check princess."

-00-

Leaving a sputtering Link behind was a somewhat satisfying feeling, especially since he had made both Gaepora and I worry over his unconscious form for a full two days before waking. Thankfully the Hylian hadn't asked how long he had flitted between this realm and the one beyond, since only last night had his condition been labeled stable.

"So, awake is he?" Jumping at the voice I faced Gaepora, trying hard not to look guilty. "He's asleep right now. I was just letting him know a few things before he went out to explore tomorrow." Gaepora sighed and glanced at the door that I had just exited. Guilt coursed through me as I thought of how the headmaster must have wanted to speak to the one man in Skyloft who had seen his daughter after her disappearance.

"I see. Well, it's good to know he has regained consciousness. I imagine he had many questions that hopefully you were able to answer for him?" At my nod he gave a relieved smile. "Well, then we should be seeing a full recovery. And then the search for my daughter can continue." With a final nod Gaepora walked away, humming to himself off tune.

"Right." At least my mother would be happy to see me; and she would ask questions I wouldn't mind answering.

Leaving the hall I stepped outside into the full sunshine and paused a moment to enjoy the warmth. Knowing that below was a frozen wasteland was a hard image to conjure, one that I probably wouldn't believe if I hadn't seen it; but it still existed whether or not I wanted it to and soon we would be returning to the snow when Link was able. The idea was terrifying, to be on the surface again where there was no reprieve from watching your back, but in a strange way I was glad it was me granted the ability to see such a place and not someone else.

Moving away from the door I made my way slowly through town enjoying the familiarity of the sights and people. Jakamar was clanking on some broken piece of machinery, Kukiel wandering around in front of her house and waving at passerbys, and Gully peering up into tree tops looking for bugs of some sort. In all it was just like any other morning before.

Smiling a little I made my way over the bridge and to my front door, relishing the feel of the old nob under my hand. "Oh, Pipit, you're back! I thought you would be at the academy a little longer." My mother clapped her hands and came forward, face beaming with happiness.

"The headmaster's nephew woke up and had a few questions. I just left to let him get some rest and figured you could do with some company of course." I supplied as I sat at the table, one of the only clean places in the house. As I had assumed, as soon as I left the dust had begun to settle on my small corner of the house even though I had only been gone a few days.

Ignoring my frown at the state of the house my mother took the other seat across the table and leaned her arms on the surface. "You know you don't have to keep up appearances here, I know he came with you from the surface." Her eyes sharp she waited for me to respond.

"Even so, it's still a good idea to just stay in the habit of calling him the headmaster's nephew. One slip is all it would take." I reminded her as I brushed off her attempt to make me feel guilty about not including her on the late night talks Gaepora and I had been having about the surface.

"Oh I know, but who would even be willing to believe that he came from that dreadful place anyway? Few people even believe in the legends and stories left behind in the history books as it is." She countered, wiping at an imaginary smudge on the table.

Shaking my head at her tenacity I reached out and took her hand, stopping it from its mindless search for dirt. "How about we spend this time talking about something else, hm?" I asked.

"Like how Karane has been asking about you?" She supplied as she squeezed my hand before letting it go. "She seems to be awfully worried about you even though you had only been gone a few days. She kept saying that you were off beating yourself up and refusing to listen to reason."

Feeling the heat rise in my face I sat back in my chair and looked away, staring adamantly at a dirty window. "We can talk about something other than that too."

-00-

The sun was at full strength by the time Link found himself awake again, the warmth almost too much to enjoy under the many blankets. Shifting them down a little he moved his gaze out the window and allowed his eyes to adjust to the brightness of the outside.

As soon as he could keep his eyes open without blinking heavily he took in the sights of a sun filled scape. The grass was a sharp green, the dirt a thick brown, little flowers he had never seen before stretched their faces toward the sun, and trees shuttered as light breezes rustled the leaves. It was like Gorko had said, a perfect paradise and he was stuck in bed only able to look at it through a small window. Or so he had been told.

Bracing his hands on the bed Link pulled himself up into a sitting position and waited. When his side only twinged he gave a small smile and moved his feet to the side of the bed and let them dangle, waiting for some sigh that his body was about to rebel. When nothing happened he pushed up and reached for the small table beside his bed and leaned on the wood as he gained his balance.

As soon as he felt his balance restored he set his sights on the wardrobe, praying that within it was clothing he could use to cover the white wrapped around his stomach which would be a beacon to any who saw him. He refused to be sent back to bed now that he knew he could move and explore the world around him, and if he was going to return to the surface he needed to be able to move on his own as soon as possible.

Pulling his hands away from the table Link shuffled away from the table, willing his stiff legs to bend and move as he shivered when he left the warmth of the sun coming in the window. "There, see?" He muttered as he pulled the doors open and was rewarded with the sight of green. "Nothing to worry about." Taking the tunic out he found it was made of a thinner material than his own but slipped it over his head anyway. "Now for the door."

Peeking out into the hallway Link found again luck had favored him and left his route clear. "Now all I have to do is find the exit." He mused as he stepped out of the room and began wandering to his right. Passing by closed doors he wondered what was behind each but decided not to look as the doors looked just as the one to his room and probably housed other occupants, most of which would wonder why he had invaded and would investigate. And then he would be sent back to the little green room with only a scolding if he were lucky, or bindings if they were more like Imara.

Shuttered at the memory Link continued cautiously down the hall, stopping only when his found two things; a door and another person, one right next to the other at the end of the hall way. Cursing his luck that had apparently wore out he attempted to appear as if he belonged, making straight for the door and passed the man in the hall.

His hand was reaching for the door when the silence was broken. "Hey, I haven't seen you around. Are you new?" Flinching, Links hand withdrawn as he turned to face the man who was staring at him with curiosity.

"Yeah, I haven't been here long at all. I just wanted to go out and stretch my legs a little." Smiling Link prayed that he sounded plausible enough to pass.

"Oh, wow. That accent is funny. Well, if you haven't been here long it might be good if I went with you. See, the island can be pretty confusing when you've come from a smaller place." Cheeks flushing the hylian joined Link at the door. "Oh, and my name is Fledge, what's yours?"

Halting a moment Link assumed that he was supposed to use his real name and not some fabricated creation. "Link. And thanks."

As the doors opened Link decided that yes, the world did look just as amazing as it was. "Where did you want to go first?" Fledge interrupted, pulling Links attention back to the man beside him. "Most people want to visit the statue of the Goddess first before heading to the market but if you would rather-"

"The statue would be fine." Link cut in as Fledge began to ramble.

"Right, okay then. Follow me!"

-11-

Right. So I apologize again about the lateness of this update. (Yes, I know how long it has been… :{ ) and for all of you whom are still around, THANK YOU! I really do intend on finishing this creature that I have made and am glad you have been around for the beginning.

Also, I am willing to talk to someone about Beta-ing if it interests them. I'm still not sure if I am able to work with someone else but I think it would help keep me on track and make my writing even better.

Wolfofsummerbreeze: I'm glad the last chapter was better, and I have tried to mirror that attempt in this one as well. Hopefully everything stayed consistent with the previous chapters… Of course if you see anything wrong let me know!

CrashingUpward: I really am glad you like the writing style! That's that part that strangely enough is one of my top worries. I've haunted multiple fandoms enough to know an ill written story with a good premise is one of the greatest disappointments.

S.R.H. Fade: I have a lurker! Lol, I hope to make it what I consider more realistic setting since that was one of the complaints I had with SS. A beautiful story, well developed characters (yay Groose!), and gorgeous world with plot holes galore. I just want to fill in with my interpretation.

Pandemonium: Wow, you make me nervous and excited in just one little line. I hope I can live up to expectations, and thank you for the complement.

Flock o' Seagulls: Lol, no panic as yes, it is intended to take a more Shounen-ai turn. I'm not sure to what extent yet, as I don't want to just throw the characters together and weaken the story but it is definitely happening. The pacing and set up are actually an attempt to follow one of my most favorite authors in the FF8 fandom. While she has pretty much retired I still love to use her work as a reference as to how to place things. Also I must thank you for the well timed review. I was poking through my e-mail and realized just how long this chapter was taking. So, I sat down and edited and wrote until what you see happened.

To all others out there who have read my little short story and reviewed, followed, or faved either I thank you, as well as any who are reading but haven't .I know you're out there and I thank you for taking the time to read about my little corner in the Zelda universe.

As for what I have planned next, I really do intend to get Link to the temple this time, honest! I just couldn't resist beating up on our little hero a wee bit. I also wanted him in Skyloft before he made it to the temple so… I got my guilty pleasure and progressed the story, win-win! Right?... ^_^;