Ah, you've returned. Greetings, my friend.

If you're reading this, you must be curious about what happens next.

Last you heard from me, I thought I'd finally reached the end of my quest to return home. We'd defeated Zeromus, and I had the honor of watching Cecil and Rosa's coronation and wedding—a beautiful ceremony to be certain. Although I had to say goodbye to some of my dearest friends and my first girlfriend, experiences that were so painful that I could only put them into poetry, I was happy to see my parents again. I had closed my eyes in darkness and hoped to wake up in the light.

But I was wrong.

And that, my beloved reader, is where we begin this tale…

***

Gasping, I open my eyes to find myself floating in empty space: no light, no warmth, no hope of escape. I try to cast a light with my newfound magic, but whatever sparks appear fizzle out within seconds of creating them. I look down at myself and realize that I am no longer wearing the blue dress I'd worn when I left the realm of Final Fantasy. My body is instead clothed in a loose-fitting cream-colored tunic, soft green pants, a red corset of sorts, calf-high brown boots, and tiny white earrings. Just as I finish checking out my new outfit, I hear a deafening, monstrous roar. I look up and in my haze, I catch sight of a massive monster with three rows of huge, sharp teeth. Shadows both drip and rise from it like smoke and ink. Because the creature towers above me, I can't quite tell what exactly it is.

Suddenly, a bright, sparkling light appears high above me and an ethereal, feminine voice calls out to me…

Rise, Adrienne… The time has come for you to awaken… You are fated to have a hand in a great destiny, and it will soon find you… The time has come for you to awaken…

Wait a minute… I know that voice. Where have I…?

Before I can remember, the light vanishes and the monster roars again. I shield myself, preparing to be eaten alive.

And then, I open my eyes in a comfortable bed.

Am I… Am I home?

I sit up and look around at my surroundings. Across from me is a wooden desk, a fully stocked bookshelf, and a wooden dresser. Just then, I notice the large blue bird resembling a shoebill sticking its head through my window. My eyes widen, and before I realize what's happening, I start crying softly.

A Loftwing…? Wait a minute… Oh God, please, no… it cannot be!

Instead of returning home, I have now found myself in a dorm room at Skyloft's Knight Academy.

I can't believe it… I'm in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword!

Memories of playing this game in my childhood all come flooding back, and I realize what lies in wait for me. I shake my head and clear my tears with my sleeve.

No sense worrying about that right now. I've only just begun.

Before I do anything, the loftwing spits a letter in my face. I flinch, then collect the letter and open it. The loftwing chirps, then flies away from the window, leaving three blue feathers behind. My eyes scan over the contents, written in lovely, delicate handwriting:

Hey, sleepyhead. I know how much you like to sleep in, so I'm guessing this letter will be your alarm clock this morning. Did I guess right? Rise and shine, Adrienne! Today's the Wing Ceremony! You promised to meet me before it starts, remember? You'd better not keep me waiting.

Zelda

I rub my eyes and smile at the letter. Just then, my eyes widen and I gasp, lifting a hand to my mouth.

I… I'm going to meet Zelda!

Shoving the letter in my pocket, I circle the room, exploring my surroundings. First, I open my dresser. I reach inside and take out a hexagonal blue gem. Here, they are called rupees, and this one is worth five rupees. I place the small crystal inside my wallet, which is also conveniently in my pocket. Or inventory, rather. I briefly examine the remaining contents of my room, then open the door and head into the main hallway of the Knight Academy. Over to my left, I notice one of the knights, a tall, lanky young man with a gentle face, struggling to lift a huge barrel full of unknown contents.

"Fledge?" I ask, remembering his name off the top of my head.

"Oh! Good morning, Adrienne! Today's the big Wing Ceremony, right? I wanted to fly too, but I… I didn't make the cut, so I'm stuck back here at the Academy. Plus, I've got to move these barrels over to the kitchen. I was hoping to at least be able to cheer you on, Adrienne, but… I guess that's the way it goes. Go out there and wow them, buddy!"

"Here, let me help you with those." I offer. Subtly using my new magic, I pick up one of the heavy barrels and lift it over my head.

"Aww, thanks. I didn't think you had time to help me out, Adrienne."

"It's no problem, Fledge."

"Really? Thanks! Okay, so…"

"Where do you want this?"

"I need you to carry one of these barrels over to the old lady who works in the kitchen. But we'll get in huge trouble if any of these barrels break, so don't even think about throwing or rolling them."

"Understood." Following his instructions, I slowly carry the barrel into the kitchen and set it down at the old woman's feet.

"What's all this? I thought I told Fledge to carry that! Bah, it's probably for the best… That skinny boy would probably have gotten flattened. Say… don't you have some important ceremony or some such today? Hmph! Well, thanks for the help."

"Anytime," I say. I walk back over to Fledge.

"Thanks! That was a huge help, Adrienne! I know it's not much, but here's half of the pay the old lady offered me to do that." He holds out a small red gem—a rupee worth 20.

"Oh, thanks, Fledge. You didn't have to do that."

"I don't mind! You did the work after all! Anyway, I have to hang back and watch the Academy today. Good luck with the ceremony, Adrienne!"

"Much appreciated. See you around."

With that, I leave him behind and head through the ornate wooden doors leading to the outside world. What I see when I pass beyond them is a sight more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. Above my head, the cloudy blue skies spread as far as my eyes could see. Colorful flags adorn every building, from the Academy to the Bazaar. Dozens of trees and flowers sprout from the rich green grass. Off in the distance, I see a massive statue of the goddess, Hylia. Loftwings float around in the endless sky, swooping and spinning and doing all sorts of other tricks in midair.

Wow… So, this is Skyloft… What a lovely realm!

A cool breeze ruffles my short fluffy hair. I lift a hand to it. What electric blue there had been has mostly faded now, leaving my hair an ombre black-to-blue color.

Interesting… I wonder if this is a result of the new game.

I am about to head to the statue of Hylia to meet Zelda when…

"Hey, Adrienne! Up here!"

I turn around and look up to see a tall man with long dark hair and long pointed ears standing on the roof of the Academy.

"Hello!"

"Good morning to you, Adrienne! Today's finally the day of the long-awaited Wing Ceremony! Are you feeling ready?"

"Yes. I am ready."

"Excellent! Oh, I just remembered. There's something I'd like to ask you about. Oh, but it's a little silly to carry on a conversation from this distance. Why don't you come join me up here?"

"Sure. Give me just a moment." I look around at my new surroundings and find two wooden boxes nearby standing on top of one another. I dash forward and scale the boxes. I then climb up to the bridge linking the two spaces and leap across.

"So, what are you up to? Rushing to get some last-minute bird-riding practice in this morning, Adrienne?"

"Er no, actually. I have a meeting."

"Oh? You have someone to meet? Ah, Zelda's waiting for you, is she? Perfect timing, then! You see, Zelda's father, Headmaster Gaepora, has a pet named Mia, and, well… she's scampered off again." He points. "Look! Over there! Do you see her?"

"I do, yes."

"The headmaster is so busy working with Zelda preparing for the ceremony… I thought that maybe I should feed her, but the ceremony is about to start and I just put on a set of fresh clothes, and, well… you see… Will you help me out and go retrieve Mia for me?"

"I'm on it."

"Fantastic! So you'll do it?! I know you're in a hurry, so I really appreciate your taking the time to help." He gestures over to a path of vines leading up the side of the building. "You should be able to climb up somewhere over there. I'm terribly sorry, but I know you're quite the climber! I really do appreciate it."

"It's no trouble, really. I'll be right back." I hurry over to a ledge on the side of the building and, hanging off it by my fingertips, I wiggle my way across the roof until I reach a stable platform, then hop across it to the next platform and climb the vines. Once there, I push a convenient wooden box against the stone wall and hop up onto it. From there, I reach up and climb onto the final stretch of the roof. When I reach Little Miss Mia, I gently pick her up the way I used to pick up my own cat, Persephone. I look at her. Mia is not your average cat. She is a fairly large kitty with pastel pink fur, a round, dark face, large rounded ears, a fluffy striped tail, and dark paws. I carry her over to the man from before.

"Nice work! You've brought her back safe and sound! Sorry for troubling you with this. I know you're busy, Adrienne! I suppose I should feed Mia now… Please tell the headmaster that we found his pet. He should be up by the Statue of the Goddess. I believe Zelda is there with him, so you should hurry along."

"Thank you. I will."

With that, I rush off toward the statue. Along my way, I start to feel my heart flutter.

Huh… So this must be my indication of depleted stamina…

If you do not know, beloved reader, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword uses a stamina system. If you sprint for too long, you'll lose all your energy, which can be deadly in a boss battle. However, hidden around the world are large green berries known as Stamina Fruits, which restore your stamina upon consumption.

I pick up the nearby berry and take a bite into it; the taste reminds me of a lime, though not quite as sour. I then turn my attention to another man nearby. He has a black pompadour hairstyle, a bulbous nose, small beady eyes, a small mustache, and stubble on his face.

"Mornin' Adrienne. How's life? Did you manage to get even a wink of sleep last night? Figured you might've been tossin' and turnin' all night thinkin' about the big ceremony today."

"I'm all right. What are you doing?"

"What am I doin'? Oh, just fixin' this gate here… It's been squeaky lately, and we can't have that on the day of the ceremony! Hey, you haven't already forgotten to send your prayers to the goddess this morning, have you?"

"Oh, no, I haven't, but thank you for reminding me."

"Anytime! As you know, those bird statues are all over Skyloft. It's about time you get in the habit of stoppin' at a statue every time you run by one. A prayer in time saves nine, if you know what I'm sayin'!"

"Thank you. I'll remember that."

I leave the man to his whims, then stop by the bird statue and whisper a short prayer.

In case it wasn't clear already, these bird statues are how I save the game.

After saving, I rush up the nearby wooden steps, taking care not to look down at the sea of clouds below me. When I step through the stone archway before me, I see her for the very first time…

Wow…

With her back to me, in the center of a stone circle beneath the shadow of the Statue of the Goddess stands Zelda. I walk up to her. She wears a lovely, knee-length flowy red dress with gold accents. A small, pure white cape with the Hylian crest in blue lies draped over her shoulders. Both a golden chain and a brown satchel are tied around her waist. Her long, silky blonde hair is braided at the tips with green ribbons. I cannot help a bright blush rising into my cheeks looking at her.

Zelda is… so beautiful…

What stands out the most to me, however, is the ornate, golden harp she carries in her arms. She strums a calming melody on it, singing in her soft, gentle voice…

Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess… Unite earth and sky… Bring light to the land…

She stops singing and slowly turns around to face me. Her beautiful, shiny blue eyes crinkle at the corners as she smiles warmly at me.

"Hey! Good morning, Adrienne! I'm glad to see my loftwing got you out of bed. I was pretty sure you'd sleep in and forget to meet me this morning."

"I wouldn't miss meeting with you for the world," I say dreamily, smiling back at her. She holds out her harp to me with a giggle.

"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 asked Father about it, and he says it's called a harp. 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 because I wanted you to be the first to see me like this, Adrienne!"

She spins around and laughs cheerfully. Such a delightfully pure sound.

"So… How do I look?"

"You look lovely, Zelda," I say, smiling sweetly back at her.

"Hah! I think so too! But it's nice to know you agree. Thanks, Adrienne."

Just then, I hear a man's voice behind me.

"Ah, there you are, Zelda. Are you all prepared for today's ceremony?"

"Oh, hello, Father."

An older, heavier-set man dressed in bright orange robes with bushy white eyebrows, a mustache, and a small beard walks up to us both.

"Ah, Adrienne, you're here too. Outstanding. It's encouraging to see you up so early, given your capacity for sleep. No doubt today's ceremony had you too excited to close your eyes for once!"

"Heh heh. Yeah…"

"If you win today's ceremonial race, you'll get to participate in the postrace ritual with Zelda, so give it your best out there."

"I look forward to it," I say, trying not to sound overly confident.

"Yes. About that…" Zelda begins. She looks sadly down at the ground.

"What is it, Zelda?" I ask.

"Father, I don't know if she can do it! Recently, Adrienne hasn't been practicing much at all for the ceremony!" She looks at me and I blush, averting my gaze. "And even when she's out riding her loftwing, she's just lazily gliding around. Probably daydreaming! I don't know what she's thinking. She's going to have to be in perfect control of her bird to win today."

I open my mouth slightly to speak, but Headmaster Gaepora waves his hand dismissively.

"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 her bond to her bird. Victory will not come easily. And, as you pointed out, I haven't seen her practicing as hard as some of the other students."

I blush more, embarrassed, even though I know none of this has actually happened.

"But you've known her since you were both very little. You should know better than to fret about her! You see, Adrienne and her loftwing share a special connection. I've never seen anything quite like it."

I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, sir," I say, regaining my composure. We all look to the sky above us.

"As you know, each of us in Skyloft is but one half of a pair. We are only made whole by our loftwings, 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." He pauses, then smiles kindly at me. "Ahhh, but that first meeting between Adrienne and her loftwing was extraordinary. The bird that came to her was a Crimson Loftwing. It is a breed so rare we were sure for some time that it had vanished from the line."

I look back at the Headmaster.

"Yes, and the girl and her bird seemed to share a profound connection from the moment they met."

I rub the back of my neck awkwardly at the compliment.

"Do you recall when Adrienne and that loftwing of hers first met? What a sight!"

Zelda smiles, her eyes bright and starry.

"The little girl just hopped up 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 she shared with her bird didn't go unnoticed by you, my dear."

I look up to the sky and close my eyes, smiling and letting the breeze rustle my clothes and hair. Oh, how I wish to be up in the sky upon my very own loftwing!

"Ah, but who can blame you? I'm sure you weren't the only one envious of the powerful bond shared by Adrienne and her bird. Anyone who is a part of something special is bound to catch some nasty looks sooner or later." The Headmaster laughs. Zelda sighs.

"This contest is nothing to laugh at, Father! This ceremony is part of the final test for those training to become knights of Skyloft!" She goes quiet and I look at her gently, as she lowers her head. "If Adrienne doesn't fly fast enough during the race…" She looks up at her father again, this time with tears in her lovely blue eyes. "What if Adrienne messes up her big chance… What if she's not allowed to become a knight?"

"Calm down, my dear. It will be fine. Honestly, it's almost as though you become a completely different person when you worry about Adrienne."

Zelda hurries over to me and takes my hands in hers. I blush again as I look into her eyes.

"Listen, Adrienne, you better fly your heart out today. At the very least, you need to squeeze in a little practice time before the race!"

"Whoa! W-Wait, Zelda, I—"

She drags me by the hand out into Skyloft. "Come on! You'll thank me later!"

Soon, we arrive at a wooden platform at the edge of which is the great unknown. I remember from this game that in order to fly, I have to jump off the edge and whistle for my loftwing to come and claim me.

"Zelda, hold on a second—"

She pushes me toward the edge and I nearly lose my balance.

"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 can't sense my loftwing, Zelda!" I say finally. She scoffs.

"Hmm? Oh yeah? You can't 'sense' your bird out there? Oh, I get it. You're trying to weasel your way out of having to practice. Nice try, but you're not fooling me. Off you go!"

And so, she shoves me off the ledge, smiling happily.

"ZELDA!" I scream, my voice nearly drowned in the rush of wind all around me.

"Okay, Adrienne, go ahead! Call your loftwing!"

Without much else choice, I flip over onto my back and whistle as loud as I can. I wait. And wait. And wait.

Nothing happens.

I look wildly about.

"HELP!"

"Hmm… Her bird sure is taking a long time to get here…" Headmaster Gaepora says, looking over the edge at me. Zelda gasps in terror.

"Something's wrong!" She leaps gracefully over the edge and whistles as loudly as she can. Her blue loftwing meets her almost immediately and she grabs hold of her bird's feathers. She rushes down as fast as she can and her bird catches me with its feet. I gasp, my heart squeezing in my chest.

"Z… Zelda…" I whisper.

"Hang in there, Adrienne! I've got you!"

When we return to the surface of Skyloft, she sets me down. I place my hand over my chest, breathing sharply in and out.

She nearly killed me!

"Are you two all right?" Headmaster Gaepora asks as Zelda tends to her loftwing.

"Y-Yeah… Yeah, I… I'm all right, thank you," I say.

"I'm sorry, friend. I didn't mean to push you so hard. You didn't sprain your wing, did you?"

"This is very odd, Adrienne. What could have possibly happened to your loftwing? For a bird to ignore the call of her master… it's unheard of!"

"I… I don't know." I slowly stand up.

"And you still can't sense your bird nearby, eh, Adrienne?"

"N…No."

"This is quite a problem, especially considering the Wing Ceremony is about to start…"

Zelda stands up and hugs me tightly. Her clean scent fills my nose.

"Adrienne, when you said you couldn't sense your loftwing, well… I should have believed you. …I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Zelda."

"I need to tend to my own loftwing, so I'll catch up with you later. You'd better go on ahead and see if you can find where your bird has gone!"

"I-I will."

The ringing of a giant bell atop the Knight Academy disrupts our conversation.

"My, how did it get to be so late? If I recall correctly, Instructor Howell is presiding over the ceremony. Adrienne, you should go explain the situation to him and see if he's willing to delay the race a little so that you can find your bird."

I nod to him.

"I will. Thank you, sir."

"But Father, you're the headmaster of the Academy! If Adrienne asks Instructor Horwell, he'll probably just come talk to you about it."

"Ah, quite true. As usual, you make an excellent point, my dear. Very well. I'll explain the situation to him myself. Adrienne, run along and tell Instructor Horwell to come see me in my quarters."

Confirming his request, I set off to find Instructor Horwell. As I begin to enter the full reaches of Skyloft, I cannot help wondering…

Where has my Crimson Loftwing gone off to? And how and why has this happened?