Chapter Text
Flora kneeled leaning over the ledge of Skyloft. Her short hair pulled into a tiny pointy tail to stop it from blowing into her face every three seconds.
"This is marvelous!" Flora exclaimed. "And this is sustained only with the Goddess Hylia's magic?"
"Uh, not quite." Sky responded, still awkward around the young woman. "Hylia brought our beloved island up to the sky… Honestly, I don't know how it stays in the air now that she's no longer actively keeping it there."
"Sky," Flora started not looking up, determination burning under her skin. "Get me some rope, and find Wild. I need to see the bottom of the island."
Not three seconds after she said that, Time quickly grabbed Flora by her hood and dragged her away from the edge.
"Hey!" Flora loudly protested, narrowly staying upright while being pulled backward. "Let go of me! I wasn't going to fall or anything! I'm a professional scientist!"
Time didn't respond, continuing to drag her in the direction of Warriors and Twilight. Who was seemingly absorbed in a conversation about horses? Their conversation petered out as Time approached.
"Dragging her by her hood probably isn't all that safe." Warriors said with an amused half-smile at Flora, who had turned around to glare at Time.
Time ignored Warriors' comment, and Flora's glare, to address Twilight.
"Do not let Wild dangle Flora off the side of Skyloft." Time said bluntly. Offering no elaboration.
Warriors burst out laughing and Flora began to openly pout.
With that Time let go of Flora's hood, then turned and walked away.
"Do I even want to know the context of that?" Twilight said, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I want to see the bottom of Skyloft." Flora crossed her arms, shifting her glare to Warriors and Twilight. "I'm good at rock climbing! The rope isn't to 'dangle' me, it's for in case I fall." Flora said pointedly.
"If I was dangled I wouldn't even be able to see anything because I'd be far away from the actual bottom!" Flora explained throwing her arms in the air.
"I regret asking," Twilight mumbled, barely audible under Warriors' continued hysterical laughter.
"You wouldn't even need a rope." Sky said and Flora turned around to see that the Chosen Hero had followed her. "I mean all you really need to do is tell the Flying Knights watch. It's not like you're the first person who's ever wanted to climb down Skyloft…." Sky slowly trailed off, finally noticing Warriors' raising a pointed eyebrow at him, and the weight of Twilight's strongest glare.
Sky coughed, face bright pink. "But that's unsafe and I need to go make preparations to get us down to the surface. See you later!" Sky turned on his heel and raced off to the Knight's academy.
"He finished preparations an hour ago…" Flora muttered, glaring at her only ally abandoning her.
Warriors elbowed Twilight in the ribs. "Cannot believe the mom friend over there would encourage this kind of behavior."
Twilight rolled his eyes at Warriors, and Flora gasped.
"I am not a gremlin!" Flora exclaimed, furiously blushing in embarrassment. "I'm going to go find Wild. She understands that I know what I'm doing!" Flora said, turning on her heel and starting to stomp off.
"Oh no you don't girlie." Warriors said, humor still clear in his voice. "The wild child is worse than you are. You two are not to be left alone unsupervised."
Flora stomped on Warriors' foot and blew a razzberry at him while he yelped in pain. Before she turned and sprinted off.
"I'M NOT A GIRLIE!" She yelled over her shoulder, quickly disappearing into Skyloft.
Twilight patted his brother on the back, watching Flora's retreating form.
"Don't you have a sister?" Twilight asked, chuckling to himself. "How did you fuck that up that bad?"
Warriors swatted the other Hero's hand off of him.
"Twilight." Warriors said glaring with the heat of Din's fire. "Shut the fuck up."
Twilight burst out laughing.
--
Flora ran through the small town of Skyloft, making a b-line for the bazaar.
If Link, or Wild, was going to be anywhere it would be in there.
Flora skidded to a stop right outside the giant building covered in blankets. She didn't want to get yelled at for running inside again.
Flora breezed past the potion maker, and the creepily persistent gear seller straight to the back where the restaurant was.
Just as expected Link was sitting cross-legged on a stool next to the cook, both her and the woman oo-ing and mm-ing at the food periodically.
"Wild." Flora started, neither of the chefs so much as flinching at her sudden appearance. "The Heroes have banned me from getting 'dangled' off the side of Skyloft, but said nothing of me climbing down so I say at dusk we climb down and see what keeps Skyloft floating!"
"It's probably gratitude magic." Four said absentmindedly, and Flora didn't flinch at their sudden comment. She did not. "If it has enough power to do what Sky has claimed I wouldn't be surprised."
Flora turned her head to see Four sitting at a table—with an unsurprising amount of books in front of them—not looking up.
How had she missed them?
They weren't exactly wrong. Especially not after she got a chance to study a demon Sky had turned into a human with gratitude magic.
"Compare notes later?" Flora said, leaning over to see what they were reading.
"Sure." Four said, and they were apparently reading a book on Loftwing grooming and care.
"Are we still gonna climb down Skyloft?" Link asked, looking up from the food she and the woman were making.
"There's nothing interesting down there." The woman next to Link hummed. Adding a dash of spice to the pot and Link hurriedly added this to her notebook. “Trust me hon, tons of people look all the time.”
"What are you even doing? Wild?" Flora questioned. "We just had lunch at the academy and we're leaving before dinner."
Link spun around to face her. "That's exactly why I need to learn as many recipes as possible before we leave!" She said, deadly serious.
Flora sighed fondly.
Link and her food.
Flora flopped into the chair opposite of Four, as Link turned back to her new cooking mentor.
Flora was bored.
They had been on the island for about a day and a half and it was like she already had seen everything there was to see!
"Hey, Flora." Flora looked up to see Four staring at her with purple eyes, with almost a red ring around them. She really wanted to know how that worked.
"Can you go grab Hyrule and Legend? We're gonna leave in like 15 more minutes and I haven't seen them for a while and I'd hate them to hold us up." They said with a half-smirk, eyes still glancing at their book.
Flora tilted her head at Four.
Disappearing randomly was very in character for Hyrule, but Legend?
Ok Legend wanders off anytime he sees interesting culture, but he would appear before anyone had to go looking for him.
"When are you joining Warriors Twilight and Time at the lift-off spot?" Flora asked.
Four cast an exhausted glance over to Link.
"Five minutes before." Four said pointedly. "And no later."
Link huffed and turned back to the soup she and the woman were making.
Flora broke out into giggles.
Link was so different after the shrine, but that would never truly change.
It was impossible to separate Link from her love of food.
Flora stood up. "I'll go look for Legend, and he'll find Hyrule."
Four snorted, their purple eyes shining in the light. "That's one way to do it."
Flora walked with a pep in her step to the academy.
Legend was probably picking someone's brain about something or other.
She pushed open the gate to the academy, subtly avoiding Twilight and Warriors by taking the long way around, and looked up at the giant bell.
That Legend, Hyrule, and Wind were standing under.
"HEY!" Flora called up to the three Heroes, wavering her hands in an attempt to get their attention. "WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?"
"HEY FLORA!" Wind excitedly called back. "CLIMB UP HERE!!"
Flora tilted her head.
Climb?
Flora looked to the side of the academy and ah yes she could climb there.
Flora walked over to the weird ledge on the side of the building, running up and catching it, then slowly shimming to the platform to her left. Just like Link taught her to do.
Dropping on the ground, Flora got her bearings while stretching out her aching arms.
Next, she had to jump across these… platform things, to get to the vines she can climb up.
Flora sprinted and jumped over the gap easily. Throwing out her arms to gain her balance before she fell.
She ran a little too fast for such a small gap.
Flora grabbed onto the vines and quickly scaled up the wall.
This was so much easier than exploring the ruins in her world. Vines had natural hand and footholds. She wasn't gonna fall off a wall several feet into water because a stone broke in Skyloft.
Flora pulled herself onto the roof of the building, rolling a bit on the floor before standing up and jogging over to the three heroes who were standing next to the giant bell.
"Hello, guys." Flora said, slowing down. "What are you doing up here?" Flora turned to Wind. "Weren't you supposed to be in the Loftwing nursery with that Groose fellow? So you'd get more comfortable with them before we had to go to the surface?"
Wind’s face instantly scrunched up.
"Never mind that." Legend said, pulling Flora's attention away from Wind. "Look at this fucked up cat we found."
Hyrule shoved the creature in front of Flora's face, and Flora took a step back in surprise.
The creature was cute enough. Huge ears, small button nose, surprisingly large doe eyes, a cream and brown fur coat, and a striped tail.
"What's a cat?" Flora asked, pushing the creature back into Hyrule's arms.
"It's this cute little pet thing that we saw in Four's Hyrule!" Wind said excitedly.
"They're also in me and the rancher's Hyrule." Legend added on. "They're like dogs but opposite."
Flora looked at the strange creature. "Is this what a cat looks like?" Flora asked, gently attempting to pet the creature. She watched in fascination as it let out a low pleased... growl?
"She's purring." Legend said, reaching over and scratching the creature's ears. "And no cats don't look like this but this girlie does act like a cat."
Legend retracted his hand, and Flora began to pet the creature in the way he did. The not-cat purred and rubbed her face into Flora's hand. "What is it then?" Flora asked, mildly enamored with the creature.
"No clue." Hyrule said, watching her pet the creature. "Her name is Mia though. We found her name on her collar."
Her collar… that's written in Skyloftian.
Flora shot a questioning glance at Legend.
“Already?” She asked incredulously.
Legend shrugged. “I’m good at languages, what can I say?”
Flora fondly rolled her eyes.
Looking at the strange creature, she pulled out her prototype Sheikah slate.
"So we can ask Sky later." Flora said as an explanation, while she tried to get a good picture of Mia.
"Oh! That's smart!" Wind said excitedly.
Flora offered him a wide smile. "Thank you!”
Hyrule held out his arms so she could get a good shot and Flora managed to get a good picture from every angle.
Purah was going to lose her mind when Flora showed her this.
Flora watched as the slate scanned Mia, setting a table full of information on its screen. "You guys should go show Twilight." Flora said, carefully examining the table.
Why did it say that these creatures had a slight dark magic to them?
Wind looked at her questioningly. "Why?"
Flora blinked up. "Because he likes animals…?" She looked over to Hyrule and Legend for help.
She had only been with the chain for two weeks now, but while in her and Link's Hyrule Twilight would carry around dogs like children. That definitely meant that he liked animals right?
Or maybe it's just dogs? No, he also liked goats–
"Oh yeah, that's a good idea." Hyrule said, holding the creature to eye level. "Twilight would love this thing."
Wind gasped excitedly, their smile bright and wide. "He would! Let's go!!"
Flora watched in mild amazement as both heroes simply leaped off the building.
Wind pulled out a huge leaf, using it like a paraglider. Hyrule was surrounded by a soft red glow as he jumped much further than anyone should be able to. Both raced to go show Twilight faster than Flora thinks she could ever keep up, and that's with her best hasty elixir.
Legend on the other hand made no moves to leave.
Standing still with his arms crossed, watching the other heroes leave with a twitch of a smile on his face.
Flora did not know what to think about Legend.
Out of every member of the Chain, he was the only true enigma.
Not that Flora didn't know things about him—he wasn't Time after all—he just never made sense to Flora.
He at once carried himself with the poise that her mother used to have in spades, and at the same time had the temperament of a particularly volatile teenager.
Not that Flora even knew what his age was.
“You look like you have cabin fever worse than I do right now.” Legend said offhandedly.
Flora made a soft sound of agreement, not quite understanding what Legend is talking about.
He never explored around like Hyrule, he didn't have Link’s need to be constantly outdoors and on the move, and he certainly didn't seem to have her same problem of feeling stuck in any enclosed space.
But Flora didn't know any of that for sure, she didn't know Legend.
“Claustrophobia?” Flora questioned.
“Something like that.” Legend said vaguely. “More wanderlust on my end, but hey.”
Ah, wanderlust. The same thing that drove Link to never stay in the same place for more than a week.
Flora could see herself eventually settling down in one place. She could even see Hyrule doing the same, even though she didn't know him that well.
Despite the fact that Link had a house, she could never see her settle down during any part of her life where he could still move.
At most the house was a free rest spot, somewhere easy for her to return to.
Legend has a house too, and Flora wouldn't be surprised if he saw it the same way with this new information.
“I never took you for the can't stay still type.” Flora hummed walking over to the edge of the building so she could softly drop to the ground.
Legend followed suit looking almost nostalgic.
“It would be hard to believe, but I like meeting new people, interacting with culture, and seeing new places.” He said with a joking lit to his voice. “Cannot fucking stand the wilderness however.”
Flora shot him a deadpan stare and they shot one back.
“I cannot imagine you liking people.” Flora said, trying to hold back giggles.
“I don't like talking to them.” Legend said, rolling his eyes, not bothering to hide a half-smile. “I like observing them.”
Ah.
People watching.
“I used to do that a lot during…” Flora fumbled for a nicer phrase. “My battle with the Calamity.”
“I can see why you’d like it.” She ungracefully tacks on to the end.
“Anyways, that's not what I wanted to talk about.” Legend said casually. “When Sky gets his bird friends or whatever, if you want to switch or something I’ll do that for you. I know you seem unhappy at the idea of meeting Sky's fiance.”
Flora stared at him, trying to keep her negative emotions off her face.
“You noticed my…” She let the words trail off, unsure of where she wanted to go with them.
“Apprehension? Yeah. But thank the Captain for putting me up to this.” Legend says still looking straight ahead. “I told him you looked off, and he figured it out.”
Flora offered Legend a smile. “Thanks, Ledge.”
Legend lifted up a hand and ruffled her hair, laughing at her indigent squawks to stop.
“Plus my sister has been dying to know about Sun.” Legend said, and Flora blinked.
“You have a sister?” Flora asked curiously. He had never mentioned a sister before, but considering its Legend she was surprised to find out anything about him at all.
“Queen Zelda Camilla Hylia,” Legend said with a small smirk. “Though my Hyrule is a constitutional monarchy, so that title means less.”
Flora gasped. “But-”
Legend snorts. “We're half-siblings,” They say blandly. “My Father had enough audacity to cheat on the Queen, and now your’s truly exists.”
Flora turned bright red. “That must have been a scandal!”
“Still is!” Legend said annoyance slipping into his voice. “I swear people are convinced I kidnapped my sister in a bid for the throne! Like I want that shit anyways.”
Legend turned to look at her.
“No offence.”
Flora fell into giggles. “None taken! Being royalty, destined to fight evil with everyone constantly staring at you… fucking sucks!”
“Did you, Princess Flora, just say a bitch ass motherfucking fucking swear word?” Legend said full-blown smiling at her. “Finally. We’ve corrupted you.” Legend nodded solemnly with those words.
Flora drops off the roof of the Knight’s academy, rolling when she hits the ground the exact way Link had taught her.
“No one will ever believe you!” She happily called at Legend.
Flora smiled brightly as she ran to the meeting point.
--
Slowly approaching the docs, Flora saw her.
Flora’s mood dropped instantly.
She was dressed in a bright pink gown, with a sturdy brown leather belt, and matching leather calf-high boots. There was a bright ice blue gem on her chest, a dark blue wrap on her left side, a purple and blue feather hanging from a smaller golden belt on her right, and a single light purple cuff on her left wrist.
Sky was standing next to her, as she was animatedly talking to Twilight, Wind, and Hyrule. Seemingly about the creature they had found. Exaggeratedly gesturing with her hands with every single word she spoke.
She had skin about the same shade as Flora’s, a little on the darker side and tanned from being in the sun all day. Her face was framed by golden blonde hair wrapped in white threads tied in bows at the top.
Her eyes were a bright blue that reminded Flora of the blue of her slate.
If it were anyone else Flora would have ignored how her eyes sparkled with energy as a trick of the light, but Flora did know who she was, so she wouldn't.
She had the same soft downturned eyes that stared at her for hours as she prayed, and prayed, and prayed for her powers to awaken.
Flora felt ill.
That was most certainly the first Zelda she was staring at.
Flora flinched as a strong arm was wrapped around her.
Warriors had at some point come up behind her and pulled her into a half-hug while she was staring at the woman from the statue made real.
Flora lightly nudged Warriors in the ribs.
“Thanks.” She said softly. “For this and, ya know, looking into what was going on with me.”
Warriors softly chuckled. “No problem little sister.”
Flora quickly stuck her tongue out at him for the comment and he started laughing.
“We have everyone here.” Warriors gestured to Link and Four sitting on a bench next to where Time was standing, and then to Legend walking up the path behind them.
“Oh yes, of course.” Sky said, looking extremely grateful to have an excuse to get away from the creature. "Everyone is here. I have asked all my friends to help us get down…"
Flora looked around at the people sitting farther away. They were all mostly dressed in the same style as Sky. The man with the bright red hair slicked upwards In a shape that reminded Flora of Urbosa's sword standing out amongst the crowd.
"Ok! So, uh, I'll tell you who you're going with!" Sky said, awkwardly clapping his hands.
"Wind will be going with me on my Crimson Loft wing," Sky starts, and Flora follows Warriors' gaze to Wind. Who has gone stock still? Twilight had a hand on the younger hero's shoulder and was gently soothing them. Flora didn't know why Wind was so scared. It was a bitter thought, but at least she wasn't the only one feeling miserable about this whole thing.
"Flora can go with my Zelda," and Flora wanted to pass out. Warriors tighten his grip around her shoulders, pulling her closer into his chest.
"Wild and Hyrule can go with Groose," Flora jumped at the hand on her shoulder, and ah. Link was staring at her, soft blue eyes filled with concern, and of course, her knight had noticed her distress.
"Fledge will be taking Twilight with him," Link gently elbows her.
"Are you ok?" Link signs in Sheikah. Aside from herself and Link, both Time and Warriors also knew this sign language but it was more private than Hylian sign.
"Karane will take Legend,"
Flora nods and elbows him back. "Don't worry it's under control." She signed, and half gestures to Warriors; who merely winked at them.
"Strich will take Four, Commander Egus will take time, and… Warriors?" Sky said, casting a glance at the Captain.
"Don't worry, I have someone coming." Warriors said with an easy smile, arm still firmly around Flora keeping her grounded. "You know how easily I make friends."
Flora resists the urge to roll her eyes at Warriors, because of course he has.
Sky's smile becomes slightly more strained and Flora sees the less polite members of the group rolling their eyes at Warriors' behavior. Twilight and Legend outright laughing and scoffing at the Captain.
"Any questions." Sky said pleasantly.
"I want to go with Sun." Legend said, double-checking his rings. "Curious if she has any insight on Gratitude magic."
Sky raises an eyebrow and Legend continues.
"Since it's so rare it's hard to study." Legend explains and that was not a lie.
Sure Legend was swapping with her, but nothing he said wasn't in line with the motivations that he has.
Legend was probably almost as good a liar as Warriors, or Time, or Four if they felt like it, and that made Flora's head spin.
Or maybe that was because Flora has never been able to lie to save her life in all the one hundred plus years she had been alive.
Sky accepted the lie without a second thought, and she came up behind the Chosen Hero to look at Legend.
"I don't know how much I can tell you, or how useful it will be, but I'll try my best to answer your questions." She said with that exact same smile.
"Her voice…" Link whispers, and right. Of course, she recognized Sun’s voice.
She had always adored Hylia.
Flora shot Link a bright smile and nudged her towards Sun with a knowing look.
She knows the woman had been on the surface until Sky had called her up, and Flora wasn't going to stand between Link and meeting her beloved patron.
No matter Flora's feelings on the subject.
"Go say hi." She said, still smiling. "I'll see you on the surface. I'm too excited to see ancient Hyrule, and to finally get a ride on a loftwing."
Link turned to look at her, tilting her head at Flora, and before Link could even ask she responded "Yes, I'm sure." and pushed her off to Sun.
Someone called Warriors' name, and he gave Flora's shoulder a quick squeeze before walking over to the Peatrice lady.
Flora turned on her heel before any more emotions hit her, and made her way to the far side of the dock to ask who Karane was.
The sky was beautiful, and Flora knew the ride down to the surface was going to be gorgeous.