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They sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean, distant waves lapping at the shore miles below them.
A cool sea breeze fluttered around them, gently lifting the ends of their hair. Sky found himself closing his eyes and inhaling, breathing in the salty air and being transported to another place entirely.
The sun had set a while ago, painting the sky in vivid shades of pink and orange before melting away into the deep bluish-black that it was now. Tiny speckled stars were splattered across the canvas of the night, the moon outshining them all from its place near the horizon, where black faded to blue and the world became a swirl of moonlight on water and crashing waves.
A silence hung over them, the night's quiet so fragile aside from the chirping of crickets and the whisper of the wind that it was as if any other sound would shatter the space between them.
Sky opened his eyes to gaze at the younger hero beside him. Wind had been uncharacteristically withdrawn the past few days. Everyone in the group could see that something was wrong, but none of them had been able to get anything out of him yet. After he'd snapped at them for their nagging, they'd all reluctantly figured it was best to just give him some space.
Which led to tonight. They'd set up camp as the sun was setting and began their usual routine of several of them sitting around the campfire and engaging in idle chatter while waiting for dinner. It had been much quieter recently due to Wind's lack of participation when he was usually so enthusiastic, and that was made especially clear now that he was nowhere to be found.
Sky had asked the others where Wind had gone, and Four had told him that the sailor had mentioned going out to the cliffs to "get some fresh air" and that he'd be back for dinner.
Concern had swirled in Sky's chest, then—something he'd grown accustomed to feeling whenever his thoughts drifted to Wind as of late. So, he'd decided to go after Wind, just to check on him. He wouldn't press for information or stick around if Wind was uncomfortable. But it deeply pained him to see someone he loved hurting, and he'd do anything to help relieve him of that pain, or at the very least provide him some comfort where he could.
He'd found Wind sitting by the cliff's edge, gazing out across the water with his gaze fixed on the horizon, a far-off look in his eyes. Sky had approached slowly and dropped down beside the other with a quiet greeting, garnering no more than a hum in response. But still, Wind didn't seem opposed to his presence, so Sky stayed put.
Which led them to where they were now, breathing in tandem with the ebb and flow of the tide, both gazing out at the sky and the sea and the blurred line between the two and aching for two places that were so different from each other, yet so uniquely alike at the same time.
A particularly harsh wave crashed against the rocks down below the cliffs. Wind drew in a breath and spoke.
"It's not my sea... but it's still nice to see the ocean."
Sky turned his gaze back to the sea, nodding sympathetically. Understanding stirred deep within him as thoughts of cloudy blue skies and endless horizons surfaced in his mind. He felt the same way whenever he so much as looked up. The skies weren't his own, but it was still nice to have a reminder of home at all times. His heart broke for Wind, who didn't have that luxury of having something that would at least always be there wherever, whenever, they went. A steady constant to rely on and keep him tied to where he came from.
"...How do you do it?" Wind spoke up again, voice quiet.
"Do what?"
"How do you... deal with it, I guess? Being away from home all the time? You must miss it."
Sky took the question in for a moment. "I do," he sighed, "I miss it so much it hurts. But it's... the little things, I guess. That help tie me over. Looking at the sky... closing my eyes and imagining I'm there."
"Does it ever stop hurting, though?" Wind asked softly.
"The only thing that can stop you from being homesick is being home."
Wind seemed disappointed, and Sky felt instantly guilty, despite what he'd said being true.
"There are some things that help, though," he amended, "Even if it doesn't fix everything or bring you back to where you want to be or make you miss it any less... there's still things you can do to make you feel a little better in the moment."
"Like what?"
"Like..." Sky fingered the ends of his sailcloth. "Having things that remind you of home. Things that you can look at and feel a bit like you're back there... or at least that remind you that someone's waiting for you when you return. Or... sometimes just talking about it helps."
Wind frowned. "I talk about the Great Sea and Outset all the time, though."
Sky shook his head. "Not exactly. I mean... describing the things you love most about it. The things you miss. Like I said, it's... the little things."
Wind turned his gaze to the ground, a thoughtful look on his face.
"What is it that you wish you could have more than anything, right now?" Sky prompted. "It could be anything."
Wind fidgeted. "I guess…" he hesitated. "I wish I could have my Grandma's soup..." He pulled a face and hid his head in his hands, mumbling. "That sounds so stupid."
"No it doesn't," Sky promised, "There's nothing wrong with missing something like that. Especially if it's something your loved one makes you." He hummed. "I wish I could have pumpkin soup from the Lumpy Pumpkin. Nobody ever makes it the way they do there."
Wind nodded, pulling his hands away from his face and seeming to relax and open back up a bit, though his cheeks were still red.
"Is there anything you miss in particular about her soup?" Sky asked.
Wind shrugged. "I dunno... It's just... something I've always had. Even on my first adventure, she gave me some in a bottle to take with me when I traveled. And I could always go back and visit."
Sky nodded in understanding.
"Also..." Wind started, "I guess I just miss... sailing. In general. It sucks being landlocked all the time. I hate walking everywhere."
Sky smiled. "Yeah. My legs used to hurt all the time on my adventure because I wasn't used to walking that much. The islands are small, and we can't exactly walk across the clouds to get from place to place."
Wind snorted in amusement.
"What else do you miss about sailing?" Sky asked.
Wind took a moment to think. "I dunno. I guess… There's something about being out on the open sea that I can't really describe. When I'm out on the water with nothing but the sun in the sky and the wind at my back. It's sort of like purposely getting yourself lost so you can find where you're going. I... can close my eyes and feel the wind rushing past and hear the sound of the waves and just... forget. Forget about everything. It just feels..."
"...Free." Sky breathed.
"...Yeah," Wind murmured, "Free."
"It sounds like flying."
"It feels like flying. At least I think so. If I knew what flying felt like, that's what I imagine it'd be."
Sky smiled. "You've got it down to a T. It's... more free than you could possibly imagine. You'd love it."
Wind grinned at him.
Their mutual understanding settled over them, and the two of them relaxed in a way they hadn’t been before. There was something about talking to someone and realizing that the other person got it. You could empty out your whole heart to that person and they would simply nod in agreement.
"What do you miss about your home?" Wind asked.
Sky inhaled deeply, releasing the breath in a rush of air akin to a laugh as a longing smile crept to his face. "A lot of things. I miss the people, of course— Zelda most of all,"—Wind rolled his eyes playfully at that—"and I already mentioned pumpkin soup. But..."
Sky turned his gaze thoughtfully to the sheet of darkness above the water.
"I miss flying, most of all. It really is like everything you described and more. I miss the thrill of rocketing through the air at full speed, the adrenaline rush of it all. But also just... getting to be with my Loftwing. Hylia , I miss my Loftwing. I miss riding with him and just lazily drifting through the sky. I've fallen asleep up there more times than I can count and woken up to my bird nudging me awake once we landed." He chuckled. "Oh, and I miss the remlits, too. I always love playing with them."
"Remlits?" Wind echoed.
"They're sort of like the cats in Twilight's and Four's worlds. But remlits have big ears that they can use to fly with. Most of them live on a little island next to Skyloft. I like to go there sometimes to relax and cuddle and play with them all."
"Awww!" Wind smiled brightly. "That sounds adorable!"
"It is! It's a peaceful place. I fall asleep there a lot, too."
"You're just talking about all the places you like falling asleep in." Wind said with a teasing grin.
Sky rubbed the back of his neck with a laugh. "I guess so. What can I say? It’s easy to fall asleep when I'm calm and comfortable." He then added in a low voice, "It’s nice to get some sleep when I can."
"Oh," Wind said quietly, fidgeting awkwardly, "Is there anything you miss that doesn't have to do with sleeping?" His tone was not unkind, merely curious.
"Well... as obvious as it sounds, I miss the sky. Not just flying in it, but... being there. Seeing it. I... love how far everything seems to stretch. The clouds just seem to go on forever. I feel like I could fly and fly and fly and it would just keep going, far past the horizon.
"I miss it at night, too. No one is allowed to fly at night unless they're fully trained knights because of how dangerous it can be, but just seeing it is enough. I've always taken for granted how visible the sky is up there. You can see everything . So many stars..."
Wind's face lit up like a fire sparking to life. "You can see the stars perfectly from out at sea, too! Well, if it's a clear night, at least. The stars are how I find my way at night."
Sky perked up, intrigued. "Oh?"
Wind nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! My—uh... friend... taught me how to wayfind using the stars, on my first adventure. My grandma actually taught me a little bit about the stars before that, like the names of constellations and stuff, but my friend taught me how to use that knowledge to figure out where I'm going. Since certain stars and constellations can only be seen in certain parts of the sky, you can use them to figure out which way is east or west or whatnot. Plus the north star, of course."
"That sounds so cool." Sky practically had stars in his eyes.
"It is!" Wind grinned. "It’s probably one of the most useful things I’ve learned on my adventures. That and cartography."
"It sounds amazing."
Wind beamed with pride.
"Do you think you could teach me some?"
"What, constellations?"
"Mhm."
Wind nodded eagerly. "Yeah, sure!" He turned his gaze to the sky, scanning the vast expanse in search of patterns that Sky couldn’t possibly hope to identify on his own.
They sat there for a while, with Wind pointing out different constellations and telling Sky their names and the stories behind them. As time passed, the moon drifted slowly higher into the sky and the two heroes soon fell into a comfortable silence once again.
Sky's gaze never left the sky, a deep navy blue dotted with shimmering silver stars, swirling violet galaxies, and fluffy gray clouds drifting lazily across the blanket of ebony that swept Sky away and up off his feet just by looking at it for more than a brief glance.
The skies seemed more vivid here.
Maybe they weren't, really. Maybe it was just a case of the grass always being greener on the other side. But Sky swore he'd never seen such a brilliant shade of blue before embarking on this journey with the other heroes. The skies back at home seemed almost sepia-toned in comparison. Perhaps it had something to do with the cloud barrier. Above the clouds things were somehow less colorful than they were below, the variety of tones in Skyloft’s decorations notwithstanding. That was one of Sky's favorite things about the surface; how vibrant everything was. From the lush greens of the trees to the magnificent blues of the water, even the birds came in vivid shades of all sorts of different colors... It was like a whole new world came to life. And it was, in a sense. The surface felt magical and surreal compared to where he'd grown up his whole life—like something born out of a fairy tale. And yet, stepping foot there, wandering around Faron Woods… it somehow gave him a sense that this was where he was meant to be.
But after a while, as time wore on, and things started getting more difficult, more stressful... The grass looked a little less green, the waters a little less blue, and he found himself escaping back to the skies whenever possible. Flying felt like a release in a way he couldn't quite describe. It was a way for him to just let go of his troubles and worries for a moment and focus only on himself, his Loftwing, and the wind around them. He sought out the adrenaline of free falling, of swooping down in a dive and shooting back up just as quickly, of spinning and twirling and rolling in midair. He didn't have to think, when flying. Nothing mattered. He felt almost insignificant compared to the massive expanse of the sky around him. Not insignificant in a bad way, but a beautiful way. He could set his worries aside. He could just be. He could just exist as a part of something greater than himself without having to think about the crushing weight of the destiny on his shoulders.
He could just be... free.
Maybe that was why he missed the sky so much. He wasn't quite so free, anymore. He was back to being a bird in a cage. He could only stare up at the sky, which seemed so close and yet so achingly far, longing for it when it was unreachable, because he was stuck on the ground with clipped wings and an anchor rooting him to the earth.
He couldn't reach the sky, so he distanced himself from the ground in other ways. Getting lost in thought separated him from the earth at his feet. He could close his eyes and imagine he was back up on Skyloft, sitting on the edge of the dock and letting the breeze ruffle his hair. The others weren't wrong when they teased him for having his head in the clouds. But it was the closest he could get to the real thing.
They didn't cycle between the heroes' worlds very often. More often than not, they usually ended up in some kind of between-era. Whenever they did happen to end up in one of the heroes' homes, they'd stay in that world for about a week before moving onto a different one. So not everyone got their chance. Some heroes' worlds they'd ended up in more often than others. And while they had been to Sky's era a couple of times, they'd never been anywhere that gave them a viable excuse to go up to the sky.
It was fine, really. Sky was getting by. He had eight amazing people in his new family who he knew were there for him. And most days were easier than others.
That didn't mean there weren't hard days, though. The days where the hollow ache in his chest grew so painful that he felt like his heart might burst. That the longing inside of him would grow to be too much to bear. Sometimes his eyes stung just thinking for even a moment about his home.
It hurt. He wasn't ashamed to admit that it hurt— sometimes even physically. He often wondered, irrationally, if his struggle to breathe the thicker air on the surface that he would never be fully accustomed to was somehow actually born from his yearning for the sky had taken physical form to forcefully steal the breath right out of his lungs.
So he understood Wind's troubles. Really, he knew the feeling all too well. Homesickness was an old enemy for Sky, one that he’d gotten better at combatting over the years but still never truly found a way to defeat entirely. He doubted he ever would. And he’d made peace with that. Maybe homesickness wasn’t as much an enemy to be defeated as it was an old friend visiting him on the road so he wouldn’t be quite so lonely.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Wind’s voice drew him out of his thoughts.
Sky blinked and turned to look at him. He laughed slightly. "Oh, nothing. I’m just lost in my head again. You know me."
Wind didn’t seem to be buying it. "C’mon. You came out here and let me talk to you. So you can talk to me. Spill.”
“Really,” Sky insisted, a little embarrassed, “It’s fine. Besides, I wouldn’t want to bother you.”
“Come onnnnn .” Wind pressed. “You won’t bother me! I mean, I’m not gonna make you, but… I feel like you always let everyone else come to you about stuff, but you never come to us about what’s bothering you . Why not focus on yourself for a change?”
Sky shook his head. “This isn’t about me. I came out here to make sure you were okay.”
“Yeah, and I’m good now, you helped me, so now I’m making it about you .”
Sky chuckled, relenting. “Okay, okay, okay…”
Satisfied, Wind waited for him to speak. Sky shifted awkwardly, fidgeting with his sailcloth again.
"I guess I just understand how you feel, in a way.” Sky began, casting around for a way to articulate his next sentence. “…Sometimes I wish I had wings myself," he admitted quietly, "I used to think about it all the time on my adventure. Maybe if I had wings of my own, if I had been able to fly, then.. . Maybe I wouldn't have failed so much. Maybe I wouldn't have been so slow…” he let out a bitter chuckle, “Nowadays I just wish I had them if only to see the clouds again. To feel that exhilaration again... It feels wrong to not have touched the sky for so long."
Wind nodded slowly, understanding in his eyes. “Yeah… I think I get what you mean.”
Sky smiled at him. “You would, wouldn’t you? Our homes are pretty similar, huh?”
Wind smiled back. “Yeah… I wish we could see each other’s worlds more often, now.”
Sky nodded. “I really think you’d like the sky. Maybe someday I can take you flying with me.”
Wind’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Yeah! We could go up to Skyloft and I could show you guys around.” Sky shook his head dismissively. “Anyway! How are you feeling? Are you sure you don’t need to talk more?”
“I’m okay for now. Talking to you really helped,” Wind admitted.
Warmth filled Sky’s heart, pleased that he was able to help. “Well, if you ever need to talk again, I’m always here. You don’t need to keep this to yourself. None of us would ever judge you for missing home.”
“I know, I know…” Wind sighed, “It just… I guess I just thought it seemed childish.”
“Well, it’s not. Everyone gets homesick. That’s one of the biggest things that comes with having a home and being someone who travels a lot."
Wind nodded, before stopping and considering something.
“I feel like… it’s not as bad as it could be, though,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Sky questioned.
“Well… I guess being here with you and the others just… helps. Makes it not as hard, you know? I sort of feel like… this is my home away from home, in a way. Even if we’re constantly on the move and everything, just… being with you guys... it feels right.
“I mean, I’ve always felt something like that with the people I met on my adventures. Tetra and her crew… Linebeck and the fairies… I feel like I kind of gain a family wherever I go. It’s sorta like… I always have a home. I always have somewhere I belong.
“Just… sometimes I can’t help but miss my first home.”
Something about what Wind said made Sky feel warm inside. Perhaps the knowledge that Wind loved being with this group just as much as Sky did.
He gave Wind a kind smile. “And there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Wind huffed out a laugh. “Yeah… thanks, Sky.”
Sky leaned over to bump their shoulders together. “Anytime.”
The two turned their gazes back to the stars, sharing the last few moments of peace before Sky pushed himself to his feet, outstretching a hand for Wind to take. “Come on, dinner will probably be ready soon.”
Wind grinned up at him and took his hand. Sky pulled him up, and Wind used the excess momentum to bounce on his heels. “What’s Wild cooking tonight, anyway?”
“I don’t know,” Sky chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, “I didn’t ask. Guess we’ll have to find out, won’t we?”
A mischievous glint appeared in Wind’s eyes, and he smirked. “Race you.”
Sky blinked. “Wait, wha—?”
Wind was already gone.
Well, he couldn’t say no to that. Sky laughed to himself before dashing after Wind without another thought.
It was weeks later when they’d walked out of a portal and found themselves on a floating island in the middle of the sky that Wind was able to experience firsthand what flying felt like.
The wind whipped at their faces as the eight of them watched Sky reunite with his Loftwing. Sky had told them that he’d take one other person with him up to Skyloft to get them some help with flying the rest up. Wind had jumped at the chance to be the one to go the second Sky offered it.
He hadn’t quite thought about what exactly a Loftwing was.
Wind hovered anxiously between Sky and the rest of the heroes. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the massive bird’s cruel talons and snapping beak. Each sudden movement from the bird made Wind flinch, not to mention the flapping wings and loud caws that had his heart dropping and throat closing up as memories flashed through his mind of indigo feathers and beady yellow eyes.
Sky giggled as the Loftwing preened his hair affectionately. He ducked out of the way and brought a hand up to rest on the side of the Loftwing’s bill, coaxing it down so that the two’s foreheads were pressed together.
It was a sweet sight. Guilt pooled in Wind’s stomach for the fear that coursed through him at the sight of Sky’s soulmate. It was clear the two were very close.
Sky turned around to face the others. “Everyone, this is Crimson.”
The bird gave a loud squawk in response, though it was unclear if it was a greeting or just an excited response to its own name. Perhaps both.
Sky’s gaze fell on Wind. He must’ve seen the other’s expression, for his face softened and he beckoned Wind closer with a gentle, reassuring smile.
Apprehensively, Wind approached. The bird stilled as he drew closer. The two locked eyes, sending a chill down Wind’s back. He stopped halfway across the distance between them. The Loftwing’s eyes were far too intelligent for just any old bird. It felt like it was reading him.
An uncomfortable feeling swirled in Wind's chest as he gazed up at the massive bird. It made a slight movement, and he took an involuntary step back, staring at it with wide eyes and waiting for the violent snap of its beak that never came.
"It's okay, he won't hurt you," Sky reassured, bringing up a hand to rest gently on the side of the Loftwing's neck. It was still standing just as innocently as before.
Wind's gaze flicked over to Sky. "I... I don't know about this..." He admitted nervously.
"It's okay, I promise," Sky encouraged again, waving a hand to beckon Wind closer once again. "Just come say hi."
Wind took a deep breath and took one tentative step forward, two steps, three, until he was standing in front of the Loftwing.
The bird, for all its intelligence, appeared to notice Wind's hesitance and intentionally didn't make any more sudden movements, allowing Wind to relax just slightly in its presence.
"Just lift your hand up like this," Sky reached over and gently grabbed Wind's wrist, gripping it very loosely so that Wind could remove it if he so wished, and slowly guided it upwards, "And place it on his beak."
Shakily, Wind did as instructed, allowing Sky to guide his hand to rest on the bird's bill. The Loftwing closed its eyes, leaning forward ever so slightly into Wind's touch.
Wind began to relax slightly as he gingerly stroked the bird's beak. The longer he did so without any negative repercussions, the air between them calmed. Despite how energetic and loud the Loftwing was in personality, it seemed to have sensed his fear and dialed down accordingly, which Wind was grateful for.
“See?” Sky said kindly.
Appreciation for Sky swirled in Wind’s chest, thankful that the other didn’t question his fear. He’d much rather ignore it and pretend he wasn’t afraid than have someone try to talk to him about it.
Sky had a fond, knowing smile on his face as he watched the two. Wind was sure there was something he was missing, but he didn't dwell on it. Sky and his Loftwing were weirdly connected— it was apparent to anyone who looked at them. Wind wouldn't be surprised if they shared some kind of secret telepathic link, or something.
“Ready?” Sky prompted, breaking him out of his thoughts.
Wind’s eyes widened, flicking his gaze between Sky and the Loftwing. He swallowed. “Uhhh… yeah," he said unconvincingly.
“Are you sure? We can take our time if you need it, there’s no rush—”
“Nonono, it’s fine.” Wind shook his head vehemently. “I’m..." He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I'm ready.”
Sky studied him closely, looking like he was going to argue, before he surprised Wind. “If you’re sure.”
Sky patted the Loftwing’s neck twice, and it practically vibrated with the effort to contain its excitement as it lowered itself to the ground to allow Sky to climb up onto its back. Sky reached a hand out for Wind to take, which he did, and helped pull Wind up to sit in front of him.
“Uh— shouldn’t I be in the back..? Don’t you need to like, steer or something?” Wind said nervously.
“Nope, you steer with your legs on the back feathers. Plus it’s safer for you if you’re in front of me so you’re less likely to fall off. So, front. Besides! Crimson knows where we're going anyway."
Wind shot him an alarmed look, but swallowed down his mounting fear. “Right.”
Sky returned the expression with a particular grin that Wind hadn’t seen very often before, but knew couldn’t mean anything but trouble.
"See you guys in a bit!" Sky called to the other Links, before turning back to Wind. “Ready?”
Wind nodded.
“Hold on tight!”
They took off.
Wind's heart leapt to his throat. The ground dropped out from under them as they lifted into the sky. Sky's arms tightened around him, a sturdy presence reminding him he was still safe.
Whirlwinds of air rushed past them as they rose higher and higher. Wind felt like his body was out of sync with his insides.
They continued gaining height, but the flight steadied out, not as directly vertical as it was before. Adrenaline pumped through Wind’s veins, excitement overtaking his nerves as he forced his eyes open, not having realized he’d shut them to begin with.
It was a sight to behold. They’d broken through the clouds in a rush of cold, damp air, leaving behind a trail of puffs of white in their wake, and were now gliding along the surface of them, the mighty bird’s wings stretched out to brush the tip of its feathers along the edges of the clouds. The brilliant blue sky surrounded them in all directions, all except for the layer of fluffy white clouds below them. Deafening gale-force winds howled around them, chilling Wind’s skin and silencing all other noise. The air tasted cool and crisp, the humidity of the clouds giving way to clear air as they soared higher and higher. The Loftwing’s soft feathers quivered as the air rushed over and through them.
As exhilaration took hold, the fear melted away. Wind grinned and let out a whoop of joy, which Sky echoed with a euphoric laugh and Crimson completed the chorus with a shrill, eager cry, pumping his wings and giving a burst of speed.
Gusts of wind whipped past his face, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Wind breathed freely. It was just like being back on the sea— and yet somehow, at the same time, it was nothing like it in the slightest.
Crimson tilted his wings up, and they began sharply gaining altitude once more, but this time it was less startling and more thrilling. They banked, turning in the air until a massive floating island was in sight on the horizon as they made a beeline toward it.
“I told you you'd like it!” came Sky’s elated shout from behind him, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of the winds around them.
Wind didn’t respond, too caught up in the moment. He had never felt more alive.
He’d been right. Sailing was like flying, and flying like sailing— but flying was also so much more .
The air grew thinner as they climbed higher, and yet it felt not like a lack of oxygen, but a breath of fresh air.
Confident in Sky’s hold on him and his own grip on the bird’s feathers, Wind released one hand and stretched it out to the side, the sensation of clouds touching his fingertips euphoric and like nothing he’d felt before.
All at once, Wind understood what Sky meant whenever he talked about flying. It was truly impossible to comprehend until you experienced it firsthand.
There was something about the taste of freedom that had always spoken to both of them. Something about the clearness of the sky or the saltiness of the breeze; about the feeling of the air rushing past your face as you fly forward towards a new adventure; the way the evening paints the sky as the sun dips below the horizon, and the stars come to life with a beauty unmatched by anything they’d ever seen. The sky seemed so close it was almost as if you could reach out and touch it.
The open sky and the open sea were so uniquely alike in so many more ways than expected.
Now, Wind lifted his head and closed his eyes, basking in the feeling of the sun on his face and the wind on all sides of him, finally touching the sky like he’d always longed to.
And for the first true time in his life, he was free.