Why can’t Link learn to be great like me?
This nicely sums up Groose’s general thought about Link, and himself, as the Wing Ceremony draws near. Groose has been waiting for this day. It’s going to be his time to shine. Everyone will see how brave and capable he is. They’ll know how he’ll be Skyloft’s hero and protector.
And most importantly, he’ll finally have a chance to be alone with Zelda and show all of the reasons why he’s the man for her.
Of course, this all hinges on Link not “Linking things up” for him. Link is always slacking off. He sleeps in late and he’s always daydreaming. Plus, he’s so scrawny. Not at all strong and ready for anything, like Groose.
But, somehow, Link gets all of the praise, especially from Zelda. They may have been friends since they were little, but it’s still not fair as far as Groose is concerned. Link doesn’t deserve the attention she gives him. And Groose is going to prove it to her.
Dealing with the “weakest Link”
He’s not going to take any chances though. It’s better to remove Link from the equation entirely. Groose can’t have any mistakes happening on the big day and during the Loftwing race, which will determine who stands at the top of the Goddess Statue with Zelda. Link loves to sleep in. That will give Groose plenty of time to get rid of the slacker’s oh-so-special Crimson Loftwing. Without it, Link’s toast.
Groose was someone who thought he was always in the right, which is one of the most dangerous attitudes a person can have. He was unaware of how much of a jerk he was. He thought he was setting a standard. He thought bossing his friends around was his right. The poor fool had no idea what bred greatness.
Despite his flaws though, Groose had something going for him: He understood that there was a right and wrong. There was a greater good to fight for. The issue was that his method of doing so was almost completely flawed.
Groose’s strategy didn’t work as well as he hoped it would. As the ceremony begins, Groose can only grumble as Link stands next to him. Link had somehow found his Loftwing. He’s always lucky like that, but at least he has no proof that it was Groose who took it in the first place.
Now, Groose will just need to do things the old-fashioned way. Beating Link in the flying competition was his backup plan.
Unfortunately, Groose’s plans didn’t go as planned. He can only watch, from a distance, as Link and Zelda stand atop the Goddess Statue and complete the ceremony. It should have been him. Link’s just lucky. Still, it’s infuriating. Now he has to wait for another chance to win Zelda’s affection.
Groose’s Lament
Tragically, it seems as though Groose will have no more chances. He heard the news the same as everyone else. Link and Zelda were flying, together, and got trapped in a vortex. Link got out, but Zelda couldn’t. Last anyone saw of her, she was being sucked down beneath the clouds. Nothing that falls beneath the clouds is ever seen again.
Poor Groose, he’s inconsolable. Zelda is gone, and so is his will to go on. He doesn’t even have the strength to work out. His weights and his punching bag sit neglected in his room as he sulks and sobs in the corner. He’s just so sad.
But he’s also angry. Link was to blame for this. He has to be. If Groose was with her, Zelda wouldn’t have gotten lost. And what makes it worse is that Link doesn’t seem as upset as Groose. Groose only ever sees Link coming and going out of Skyloft, flying off to unknown destinations. He’s up to something, and Groose is going to find out what. All it’s going to take is a bit of sleuthing and waiting for the right time to chase after Link.
Adapting to a new world (and a new reality)
The time has come. Seeing Link soaring toward another one of his mysterious getaways, Groose follows him. It comes as a shock when Link jumps from his Loftwing and begins to plummet into a hole in the clouds, but shock isn’t going to stop Groose. If Link’s going down there, then Zelda must be down there too. Groose drops from his Loftwing and dives after him.
Groose isn’t much of a graceful diver though, as he catches up with Link much faster than he expected — and crashes into him with considerable force. Luckily, Link pulls his Sailcloth out in time to save them both from slamming into the ground.
The ground? Yes, to Groose’s great shock, he finds himself standing on solid ground beneath the clouds. And there are trees — so many trees. And tiny birds. How can there be tiny birds? So much of this makes no sense. Groose will figure it out later, though. Zelda’s clearly down here, and he’ll find her. He tells Link that he can handle things from here and sets off to search for Zelda. The first place starts with is a mysterious nearby temple.
Inside the temple, Groose finds and speaks with an odd old woman. He insists that she help him find Zelda, saying that he would be the one to save her. The old woman simply ignores his declaration and instead reveals the truth: Link will be the one who saves Zelda. Groose thinks that ridiculous, but the woman refuses to acknowledge his greatness. Furious at her, Groose leaves her and Link behind and exits the temple.
Groose has confidence in himself, but that confidence is unfortunately shattered by violent tremors coming from the earth. Down in a pit near the temple, Groose sees what is causing them.
An imprisoned beast has broken free from some kind of prison. It’s a behemoth. And all Groose can do is tremble. He trembles in fear — as Link goes and defeats the monster and seals it away again. The shame is almost too much for Groose. He was useless. All he had ever wanted to be was the main man, the hero. He was neither of those. With nothing to keep himself going, Groose runs away, despondent.
Learning what it really means to “man up”
His sadness stays for a time, but he won’t let it keep him down forever. There’s got to be something he can do to help Zelda. And with the knowledge that the beast might break free again, he knows exactly what that thing is.
Enter the Groosenator. Groose had decided to stay with the old woman and create a defense system for the temple. With that monster’s return being imminent, Groose wanted to have a way to help. That way was a weapon system that would slow the beast down and give Link the time he needed to seal the beast away again. The question is, though, will it work?
Yes. Two times, actually. Twice, the Imprisoned tries to assault the temple. Twice, Groose and his Groosenator make all the difference in saving the day. Groose might not be Zelda’s direct hero, but he’s found a way to play his part. He’s learned some humility. It’s this humility that has allowed him, for the first time, to act like the champion he believed himself to be. Groose has his confidence back.
And it’s a good thing he got it back because he needs it for what’s coming. Later, once Zelda is free from her self-induced endless slumber and everyone believes they are safe, Ghirahim arrives to prove how wrong they are. He kidnaps Zelda and escapes to the past via the Gate of Time. In the past, his master still lives and awaits him. Link, naturally, pursues.
Finding his inner hero
But Groose pursues too. It takes him a while to work up the courage, but he goes through the gate as well to lend whatever help he can. Turns out, that help is saving Zelda’s life.
Groose arrives at the hotbed of activity just as Demise, who Ghirahim successfully freed, flings the unconscious Zelda into the air to let her plummet to her death. Groose isn’t about to let that happen. Groose has got this.
Diving, Groose clutches Zelda away from certain death. Dazed but not injured, Groose yells to Link to tell him that Zelda’s safe. He also tells Link that if he destroys Demise in time, Zelda’s soul, which Ghirahim partially sacrificed to resurrect Demise, would be freed. Link is relieved. Now he can join Demise in battle without worrying about Zelda’s condition. Groose watches as Link steps into the ring of light and disappears, off to save the day.
Days later, after Link had returned victorious over Demise, Groose, Zelda, Link, and some other residents of Skyloft return to the Surface to explore it. This land shows promise as a new place to call home. And Groose, now sure of himself, knows that he wants to play a part in building it.
Groose had a lot to learn about life and himself, and he also had a lot of growing up to do. But he did something few are ever willing to do: He let go of his pride. In doing so, he accepted his role to play in destiny and was actually able to do more good than he ever imagined. Groose might not have been the main hero, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t find his own way to be heroic.
