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Chapter Text

Revali hated this type of environment. With every step he took he could feel the water seeping out of the ground and the occasional puddle here and there, he cringed as he felt his talons dig into the wet dirt. He could not even avoid this discomfort in the sky as it was humid, unbearably so. As he walked along the path up the mountain he scoffed at the thought of how Princess Zelda had assigned him this mission, a pointless one if you asked him. He could be training right now, honing his skills and perfecting his skills but no, he was tasked with this oh-so important task of surveying Lanayru for any monsters. And to make matters worse, it’s not like this was a one time thing. This was perhaps the 3rd or 4th trip he's had to make to the region, maybe the 5th but he couldn't be bothered to remember exact numbers.

And to make matters even worse, he had been assigned to survey the land with the Zora Princess every single time. Princess Zelda assured Revali that it was because Mipha knew the region well so with her knowledge and his abilities, they’d make quick work of their mission though Revali couldn't help but feel like she was patronizing him, especially after their encounter when she first visited the Flight Range to recruit him as a Champion. He scoffed to himself once again as he remembered his failure as he fell from the eye of the whirlwind while attempting to perfect his skill and how the Princess saw everything, his ascent into the sky, his small body flailing about the gust of wind before being thrown out onto the ledge where he stayed down for a little bit, feelings of failure and frustration washing over him as he lay there, utterly defeated. No one should have ever seen him like that, yet there she stood a few feet away from him, looking down on him, oh Hylia how he hated that feeling of being looked down on. Maybe this was Princess Zelda’s way of looking out for him, by assigning him a partner who’d watch over him. Regardless of the intention, he hated it.

So when rumors of a red-maned lynel roaming atop Ploymus Mountain reached Central Hyrule, Hyrule’s king wasted no time in sending the pair out to put down the beast. The two had made easy work of the lynel in the late evening the following day which led them to where they were now, finally overlooking the domain as they stood on the marble like surface of one of the dams that contained the East Reservoir Lake. The closest dam overlooked the Domain itself and came fit with a canopy like room with a bed. As the sun drew closer to setting, Mipha insisted on offering the room to the Rito with such a persistence that not even Revali thought was usual for someone like her.

The pair had been standing on the ledge of the dam, the Rito just a few steps away, surveying the area. She knew he was planning to leave. “It may be dangerous for you to fly home in the dark of night given Rito's poor night vision, right?”

“For the average Rito, yes I suppose it would. But I’m no average Rito, Princess,” he turned to face her still at a distance, his expression sly and confident though Mipha, much like everyone who had the (mis)fortune of meeting Revali, internally rolled her eyes at his pride.

“Revali,” she scolded, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. Much to Revali’s dismay, Mipha had become much more comfortable with him over the past missions and would often scold him for his reckless behavior, a change from their previous strictly professional relationship. Revali hated that she was becoming better and better at seeing right through him.

But how could he turn down such hospitality?

There was a lengthy pause as she held his gaze, not wanting to let him win if she broke eye contact first. He sighed and closed his eyes as if deep in thought before he fixed his eyes on the scenery in front of him yet again.

“Well, if you truly do insist then I suppose I’ll stay the night, Princess,” His voice was laced with his usual irony, though its malice was lacking and the sudden yet new softness in his eyes proving he meant no true harm. She sighed in a mix of relief and frustration at his stubbornness. Mipha liked to think that he was finally warming up to her, that maybe for once in his life he’d let his defenses down and let someone in. But Revali did what he did best and shut people out in the end.

As someone who had been raised in royalty, Mipha knew that her circumstances and upbringing were much different to that of the average Zora though she prided herself in being closely connected to her people. Her eyes followed the Rito as he paced around as if he were still debating on leaving or not. She remained fixed on him, studying his expression and features. He was so foreign to her and she was sure he thought the same of her. Over the past missions, along with completing their task, Mipha had made it a goal to get to know the other Champion better.

His appointment as a Champion of the Rito proved his abilities but other than that, she and the other Champions knew very little of him. Everyone knew of Urbosa’s relationship to Hyrule’s late queen as well as the maternal relationship her and Princess Zelda had, she was well respected among her tribe and Hyrule’s royal family. The Champion Daruk and the Gorons were also quite tied to the royal family, and Daruk’s position as the Goron Elder and a respected warrior in his own right made him the obvious choice. Mipha’s own father and King Rhoam had also been political allies and both kingdoms pledged their allegiance to each other long ago. To this day, the two kingdoms have stayed close and as the next in line for the throne along with her healing ability and skill with a spear, Mipha was the strongest choice.

It wasn’t just their status of course that made them Champions but their skill in combat as well as what the prophecy had foretold. However, she knew nothing of Revali. As far as she and the other Champions knew, he came from no status. Perhaps that was more of a cultural difference than anything as the Rito had no royal family, just a wise elder to lead them. Still, she wondered. She wondered what made him who he was now, how he was raised, what of his family, among other questions though she knew they were not at that point in this weird arrangement that could possibly become a friendship. Maybe one day she would learn more about the face behind the Rito Champion.

Revali stood at the entrance to the canopy taking in the room before turning around towards Mipha, his eyes fixed on the scenery that expanded in front of him: the winding rivers encircling the domain, the tall and powerful waterfalls that cascaded down from the cliff sides, the intricate and delicate designs of the architecture, the soft blue glow that came from the domain itself as luminous stones were adorned within, and so much more. His beak slightly ajaw as he kept his gaze focused on the view before him before her soft voice pulled him out of the trance, “Beautiful, isn't it?”

His gaze remained fixed on the distant, soft blue glow of the domain before glancing at the Zora. The way the setting sun casted light on her scales making them shimmer as she swayed idly, the soft sound of the precious metals and gemstones in her jewelry clinking together as she walked towards the doorframe of the makeshift room, the sound of her walking which was so foreign compared to the sound of his talons against the marble floor, the small smile she offered him as she looked up at him and awaited his answer; she was beautiful.

What was he thinking? Well, it wasn’t inherently romantic or anything, just an observation. At least that's what he told himself. Someone being kind to him despite his arrogance didn’t warrant such a reaction anyway. It was nothing.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he mustered up enough brainpower to put together a coherent sentence. “It’s definitely quite the sight,” he muttered, “very different from Hebra and Tabantha.”

“I can’t say I’ve ever been to either, perhaps you’ll have to show me around sometime,” looking at the dark sky, the sun had set, a sign for her to begin making her way to the domain. She began to walk to the edge of the dam.

Revali half-scoffed, half-laughed, “As if a little thing like you could survive the cold.”

Mipha turned to face him, her back to the great fall, “I’m far more resilient than I look, Revali,” her expression stern, almost cocky for a split second though Revali couldn’t be sure before she smiled, “I must be off now, please report to Princess Zelda that we have completed our task before you return to Rito Village.”

In a swift motion, she leapt into the cascading waterfall of the dam before diving into the lake below it. Graceful as always, truly royalty he thought to himself. Maybe these missions together weren’t so bad afterall.

Revali was left alone with the constant background noise of the wind rustling and the cascading waterfalls and to make matters worse, with his thoughts. He lay in the bed, the sturdiness of the bed making him miss his hammock back home even more. He scoffed at recalling his observation while he was talking to the Zora Princess. It meant nothing, he tried convincing himself it was just the fact that she was kind. She was kind to everyone, he wasn’t special.

Maybe it was some subconscious thought process influenced by the fact that a Rito soldier he was somewhat close with teased him about not having any love life. He had merely scoffed and retorted that he had no time for such things, that the threat of Calamity Ganon loomed over all of Hyrule and his training was obviously more important. It was odd how he still thought of that interaction because he insisted to himself that it didn’t bother him, yet he still thought about it.

And with him spending more time with the Zora Champion and her sweet and gentle nature becoming more and more present in his life, it was natural for him to think such things, right? Not that it meant anything of course. Just a mere coincidence. He’d just spent too much time with her recently, that was it.

Not like they could actually be together either way, so it was useless for him to even consider any “relationship” with her. Not that he was considering it anyway. The threat of the Calamity loomed heavy on all the Champions, on all of Hyrule for that matter. None of them could afford any distractions. Not to mention the obvious: he was a Rito, she was a Zora. To make matters even worse, she was royalty and he was a lowly orphan turned warrior with no status with not much to his name other than his skills.

Underneath the covers, he tossed and turned trying to find a comfortable position for such a foreign bed. He stared out into the night sky, he felt pathetic. Overthinking because of a little kindness, what was he? A teenager? Well yeah, but he was a Champion first. With a sigh, he convinced himself it was just him overanalyzing customary acts of kindness from a very pretty girl. Didn’t mean anything, never will. The fact he was having to have this debate in his head was pathetic in itself and he vowed to never think of it again.

Tomorrow was a new day, he shouldn’t loom on the past.

He had a busy day tomorrow anyway, no time to loom in the past. He needed to report to the Princess before heading back home where he’d have a class of fledgelings to teach at the flight range per the elder’s request, his reasoning being that it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the youth to train as well, especially with the rise in monsters, and Revali couldn’t help but agree. After he’d need his own time to train and perfect his new skill that he has yet to name. Revali's...something. Tornado? Whirlwind? Masterpiece?

And maybe he’d show Mipha both Hebra and Tabantha sometime. Maybe they’d be tasked with surveying the regions, not that he would invite her himself of course. Nevertheless, maybe it would be a good idea to invite her, political relationships and such. The Rito were much more isolated by nature compared to the other races of Hyrule, maybe it would be a good idea to improve relations especially with the Calamity impending. Well, at least that's what the village elder always said, maybe Revali would have to take him up on it sometime.

He backed off the idea as he began to realize maybe he wasn’t the best person for the job anyway, and besides the Rito had thrived isolated. Change wasn’t necessary, but then again the last time Hyrule had been under the threat of Ganon was 10,000 years ago.

Maybe change was necessary sometimes.

Sometime while reviewing his mental checklist for the next day, he fell asleep to the gentle rustle of the wind under the serene night sky.

The next morning when Mipha swam up the same waterfall up the dam to check on him, she was slightly disappointed to see an empty bed, the Rito now gone. She brushed her hand over the neatly made covers which still held some warmth from where he had laid. She had just missed him.

Chapter Text

Revali’s footsteps echoed as he walked down Hyrule Castle’s narrow, unbearably long corridors, the sound of talons on stone alone practically announcing his presence. He hoped to make his stop at the castle a quick one; he just needed to find either the King or the Princess, maybe they’d even find him first by what obnoxious sound his footsteps made, and continue to Rito Village. Simple enough, right?

He continued to walk the halls, the occasional royal guard addressing him with a slight head nod. Eventually, he crossed paths with some Sheikah scientists, one in particular looking familiar. Where had he seen her before?

“Greetings, Master Revali,” the Sheikah girl spoke, and it dawned on him, this was Impa, the royal advisor, but more importantly, Zelda’s friend. “What brings you to Hyrule Castle?”

He held back the roll of his eyes before realizing this was his key to finding the princess and getting out of said castle faster. “Just a report of the latest survey of Lanayru,” he looked at her and the other Sheikah accompanying her, noting the various journals and documents they carried, “Have you seen the princess? She is waiting for my report.”

“Of course, she’s in her study,” Impa replies as one of the scientists gently nudges her, “Oops! Welp, I have business to attend to at the Royal Ancient Lab. Nice seeing you, Revali!” She smiles politely at him, beginning to walk away.

Revali thanks her and heads off towards the study. He hates the amount of walking he is forced to do within the castle. He contemplates stepping outside and simply flying to Zelda’s study. Would it be rude to unleash his gale within the castle? Regardless, he spots a balcony and books it, ascending and immediately spotting the structure and the bridge leading to it. On his short flight there, he spots the sanctum of the castle and vividly remembers his appointment as champion.

— Hyrule Castle Sanctum

The concept of Hylian architecture was something Revali couldn’t quite grasp. The castle itself was much too complicated, with long winding hallways that made one feel like they were walking in circles. The tall ceilings and walls felt constricting, giving the illusion of space but ultimately being closed off to the outdoors. It was very different from the winding stairs and open rooms of Rito Village, he thought.

He so dearly wished to go back home, yet here he was, forced to remain in Hyrule Castle for the remainder of this celebration. The appointment of the Champions of Hyrule sounds grand, right? To Revali, it was meaningless ceremonial pomp. He couldn’t help but think that while their roles as champions brought up the morale of Hyrule, it was a reminder of the great threat they were ultimately going to face.

He remembered the conversation he and the village elder had when they received the invitation from King Rhoam. It was late in the evening when Revali had been called by the Elder to his hut.

— Elder’s Hut

“Must I attend?”

Elder Tenali sighed as he sat in his rocking chair before looking at Revali, who stood in front of him, “What do you think, Revali?” His tone was not that of malice but was akin to that of a parent trying to reason with a stubborn child, though it was not too far from the reality.

Revali began to pace the hut, occasionally looking out of the open windows as if the wind would whisper to him some kind of solution, “Could we not send someone else in my place? Marriages happen by proxy sometimes, could we perhaps-”

“You realize that by taking this role as Champion you would also become a representative of the Rito to all of Hyrule,” the Elder turned his gaze towards Revali who was desperately avoiding it, “we are already so isolated from the rest of Hyrule, this would further wedge the divide between us and the kingdom if you were to fail to attend, it might give the wrong impression,” he continued, his voice firm yet also in a way pleading as he folded his wings to rest in his lap.

Revali grumbled and furrowed his brows before crossing his wings. Elder Tenali was right. Despite all of Hyrule having been united for millennia, the Rito were by far the most isolated. The sun continued to sink further down, and the night breeze brought a light chill.

“Why are you so hesitant, Revali?”

Another lengthy pause followed.

Revali sighed, “I’m just not … enthralled by crowds,” he managed to stutter out before continuing, “I can’t help but feel that I’ll be at the bottom of the hierarchy when standing next to the others.”

His arms fell to his sides before they began to flail about; he had a habit of talking with his hands. “Besides, everyone there is just so high and mighty,” his voice rose slightly to convey his frustration, “too many formalities and much too ornate etiquette, it’s ridiculous.” One of his hands had moved to mess with his braids, the other resting firmly on his hip as he finished his rant.

The Elder chuckled much to Revali’s confusion, “And since when do you care about 'fitting in', Revali?”

Revali practically squawked in indignation, “I do not!” Crossing his wings once again, he looks away into the distant mountains out the window.

“Then I’m sure you will not mind attending,” the Elder says knowingly. He knew Revali and his character well enough by now, “if not for you, for our village. You are the pride of the Rito, Revali.”

And upon hearing some praise sprinkled into a plea, Revali conceded.

“When do we depart for Hyrule Castle?” Revali asks, and he’s met with another chuckle.

— Hyrule Castle Sanctum, cont.

Hyrule Castle was bustling with people from all corners of Hyrule due to the appointment of the Champions. Revali walked alongside Elder Tenali and one of his highest-ranking warriors, Akotli. The letter that had been addressed to them instructed them to meet just outside the sanctum. Elder Tenali and Akotli engaged in some dull conversation as they approached the large entrance, Revali occasionally chiming in.

Revali couldn’t help but feel his stomach churn a bit at the thought of meeting the other champions again, formally this time. He hated to stand alongside royalty; it felt like every one of them was looking down on him.

Just outside the doors stood the Zora Champion, her frame dwarfed by the large Gorons that stood alongside her. Scratch that, even the Zora on her other side, who Revali could only assume was King Dorephan based on the headpiece he wore and his stature, made her appear much smaller. Beside him stood a dark colored Zora who appeared to be the commander of their army, as Revali noted the various medals on his armor. Daruk was accompanied by one other Goron, whom he assumed was also one of his highest-ranking soldiers based on similar medals adorning their “armor,” if you could call it that, the two engaging in cheerful conversation.

Before they were within earshot of the others, Elder Tenali whispered something about Revali being on his “best behavior,” much to Akotli’s amusement. Revali merely scoffed and rolled his eyes before putting on an indifferent expression on his face as they approached the others.

The Rito exchanged friendly greetings with the Zora and Gorons, and the Rito Elder even managed to engage in some small talk with the Zora King, Akotli, off in chatty conversation with the Goron general. Revali remained where he stood against the wall, not particularly thrilled at the idea of small talk. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a ruby colored figure turn and face him, though he kept his gaze focused on his wing he deemed in need of being preened (that’s what he told himself anyway; he just wanted to look busy.)

The sound of jewelry and heels echoing prompted everyone to turn and face the Gerudo Champion (who wore a light azure colored skirt) with Princess Zelda alongside her, the princess’s appointed knight (who wore a similarly colored tunic) and a Gerudo chief escorting them, greetings and polite chitter-chatter ensuing in the time before they’d enter the sanctum.

“I’m glad everyone could attend. Before I go in with my father, per his request, I ask how you all would like to be formally introduced.”

What did that matter? Weren’t they all Champions in the end?

Again, to Revali, this was nothing short of ceremonial pomp he couldn’t be bothered to participate in, yet was obligated. His eyebrows quirked up, and he turned to give the Rito Elder a look of confusion subtly. The Rito had no royal family after all, and Revali himself was not the leader of his tribe; he was just a skilled warrior. But after hearing “Princess Mipha of the Zora”,” Lord Daruk of the Gorons”, and “Lady Urbosa of the Gerudo”, he felt that “Warrior Revali” had no weight to it, sending him further down the hierarchy. His mind raced as he tried to come up with a title because while he himself hated formalities, to present himself as just “Revali” would further prove he stuck out like a sore feather. The Hylian Princess looked up at him expectedly, awaiting his response, though he could not concoct one.

He felt the weight of a wing on his shoulder, “Master Revali of the Rito,” the Elder spoke. Normally, Revali would’ve expressed his distaste in people speaking for him in a lengthy rant, he still might, but hearing the Elder speak took a metaphorical weight off his shoulders while a physical one replaced it, (though he hated physical touch, he wasn’t going to make a scene here in front of his peers.)

“I do have one more thing before the ceremony begins,” the princess once again started before her knight handed her garments of the same color as his tunic, “as Champions, consider these as gifts from the Hylian Royal Family,” she held each garment out to inspect what it was before handing it to the right person. A sash of some sort was handed to Mipha, a much larger sash handed to Daruk, leaving a scarf that she handed to Revali.

Seriously, first the ceremony, then the titles, and now a uniform?

Meaningless. Ceremonial. Pomp.

He did like the blue though, especially the contrast of the white emblem of Vah Medoh, but of course he did not express that aloud.

He stepped aside and handed the new scarf to Akotli as he removed his current one, holding it out once again to exchange it with the other Rito who instead stepped in front of Revali. Akotli wrapped the new Champion scarf around Revali’s neck, “I don’t need someone to put my scarf on for me, I am very much capable,” Revali whispered indignantly, his usual bite laced in his words.

He was met with a chuckle as Akotli began to tie the scarf, “Hylia forbid I try to be a good friend,” he let out an exaggerated sigh as he stepped back.

“If you were a good friend you wouldn’t have laughed at me that time I miscalculated my descent and dove into Lake Totori,” Revali grumbled.

“That's why I said “try”, Revali,” his friend chuckled again, knowing Revali meant no real harm in their playful banter and he patted him on the back, “besides, I did get you out of there and you look funny when you’re soaked, makes you look way smaller, like a wet dog.”

“Whatever,” Revali rolled his eyes before the group began to stir, the large doors of the sanctum being pulled open by two soldiers.

Showtime.

The ceremony commenced as they walked in, a crowd of Hylian soldiers lined up and the four champions spaced out into a curve, their leaders and army chiefs standing behind them, the Hylian knight placed in the middle of the four, and Zelda standing in front of them facing the king.

And well, the rest was a blur.

— Present

He landed on the bridge connecting the remote study to the rest of the castle, he made his way to the slightly ajar door and knocked gently. Inside, he heard rapid scurrying and what he could only assume was a book or two falling. Maybe he should announce himself?

“It’s just me, princess.”

And the noise came to a halt, Zelda peeking through the crack of the door. In an instant, Revali saw the door open, felt a yank on his feathers that dragged him inside, and heard the door shut behind him. He squawked as the sudden burst, “What was that for?”

The princess paid him no mind and continued about organizing several journals and what appeared to be blueprints into a hidden drawer, “I thought you were my father,” she stated plainly.

“Still grounded from research? Aren’t you a little old to be grounded?” He teased, emitting a light chuckle.

“Doesn’t matter when your father is the king of Hyrule,” she sighed.

Revali gave a simple “hmph” in response.

“Figures,” he added.

Zelda ran a hand through her hair in an attempt to quell her stress, “there’s so much we have yet to learn of the ancient technology being dug up,” she continued in an impromptu rant that Revali assumed she had been holding back for the past few days since he last saw her and while this wasn’t exactly helping him get back to Rito village anytime soon, he listened.

He watched as she paced the small length of the study, occasionally showing him blueprints of technology he had merely heard of, while she continued to run her hands through her hair.

“I just don’t understand why father won’t allow me to involve myself in this pivotal research that could be the key to defeating Calamity Ganon,” she said, positively exasperated as she looked at Revali.

Wasn’t she the key to defeating Ganon? Well, Revali wasn’t going to say that out loud, even he figured it might be a sensitive subject for her and declined to mention it.

“When’s the last time you relaxed, Princess?” Revali teased, “I mean seriously, I feel stressed just standing in the same room as you.”

Zelda collected the last remaining blueprints she had shown him and stored them away out of sight, “I suppose it has been a while,” she says in a dejected voice.

“I know just the spot,” he put his wings behind his back as he walked around the small room and found a map of Hyrule hung up, “Goflam’s Secret Hot Springs, obviously a secret considering it’s not even labeled on this map,” he said as he pointed to a small blue blob on the map.

The princess let out a sigh, “even if I had the time to “relax”, Link and I would have great difficulty getting there…” she trailed off, almost disappointed.

Revali quickly turned his head to face her, “Nonsense! That little knight can stay behind in Rito Village, I’ll take you,” he stated, “besides, aren’t we a little overdue for gossip?”

He was met with a giggle, “well, I’ll see when I can make a trip out to Hebra,” she said before continuing in a much different, more excited tone, “and we can work on configuring your divine beast!” She presses her hands together against her lips, her smile beaming with excitement.

“Fine, fine,” he waved his wing dismissively and settled on leaning against the door, “aren’t you going to ask why I’m here in the first place, princess?”

“Oops! Yes, of course…”

He reports what they surveyed, the work they’d made of the lynel. Zelda notes that Revali speaks more warmly of Mipha, even if it was subtle.

“Well, I’m glad you’re getting along with Mipha,” she says and Revali reaches to run a wing through his braids, “we’re getting along just fine, yes.” He admits this rather bashfully, Zelda thinks.

After saying his goodbyes, he’s off into the sky once again and bound to Rito Village. Finally, he thinks.

Chapter Text

Mipha sat on the edge of her private pool, her legs in the water as she gently swung them, causing ripples in the water. It had been a slow day with nothing important to note, though in these times, maybe that was a good thing. The Domain was safe and so were the Zora; there was nothing to fret about, yet she felt the need to be useful, to go out and do something. It was times when she was not busy that she grew to dislike as it gave her time to reflect.

She looked around her room and spotted the armor she had been crafting, its chainmail reflecting the light that came into the room as her scale decorated the chestplate, shining brightly as it reflected the sunlight that poured into the room. She sighed before jumping into her pool; perhaps a nap would serve as a better distraction.

She tries not to think too much of Link and what his appointment as Zelda’s personal knight could entail. Instead, she sets her mind elsewhere. She thinks of the plans she has for the following day, training with Seggin, then discussing important matters with her father regarding continental relations, and then whatever else was needed by the inhabitants of the Domain.

Her mind wandered from subject to subject before settling on the Rito Champion who had just been in the domain the day before. She reflected on her previous missions with him, most of which had taken them to Lanayru, an area that Revali made his distaste known for in the form of various complaints ranging from the persistent rainfall and the humidity it ensued, the slippery land covered in mud, but most of all the Lizalfos. Mipha giggled at the memory of how they came across a small group of Lizalfos, one in particular blasted water right in Revali’s face, knocking him back into a pool of mud. For someone who held himself in such high regard, the expression of utter disgust on his face was a little satisfying.

— Toto Lake

Seeing as they were covered in mud, Mipha suggested they wash off in a nearby lake. Revali remained on the shallow end of the water, grumbling to himself as he tried to rid his wings of the mud clumps sticking to them, while Mipha opted to swim, the currents easily washing the dirt off her.

Seeing his frustration as he remained in knee deep water, Mipha frowned and swam up to him, “Pardon my unsolicited advice, Revali,” she began as Revali turned to face her, “but wouldn’t it be easier to simply dive into the water rather than clean one limb at a time?”

His eyes slightly widened and the smaller feathers of his face puffed up slightly out of embarrassment, though he assumed Mipha wouldn’t be as well-versed in Rito anatomy to know what it meant.

“I’m doing just fine this way,” he managed to get out, his eyebrows furrowing as he returned his gaze to his wings in front of him.

Mipha squinted, obviously not buying whatever excuse he made up, “Can you not swim, Revali?”

Revali squawked in indignation, “Of course I can!” he retorted, perhaps much too quickly, only to be met with a smirk.

“Are you perhaps scared of water then?”

He turned to face her, his face that of repulsion as if it were completely insulting to assume that would be the case, “Of course not!”

“Alright then,” she said coyly as she stepped out of the shallow waters in a way that Revali assumed she was finally getting out and leaving him in peace.

Suddenly, he felt an unnatural wave push him into the pond, off the small underwater bank he had been standing on and into what felt like an endlessly deep abyss. He thrashed and flailed helplessly for what felt like an eternity (which was really just a few seconds) before a slim body pressed against his and pulled him onto the shore. He coughed up water and remained on his hands and knees in the shallow water and never did he ever want to be out of water more than now. Slowly, the sound of giggles became his main focus.

“What’s wrong with you?!” He raised his voice as he returned to a normal standing position.

Mipha only smirked in response before speaking, “You said you could swim,” she said innocently, “is a little water too much to handle for the Rito Champion, then?”

He glared at her, appalled by her words but mostly at the sweet tone she kept. “Fine, I can’t swim, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?” he countered, “I, Master Revali, Champion and Pride of the Rito, can’t swim. Happy?” He held a (soggy) wing to his chest as he walked towards her, though Mipha couldn’t help but burst out into laughter at the sight in front of her. The Rito Champion now seemed so small and the least bit intimidating, his feathers clinging to his body and revealing his narrow frame. The feathers at the very top of his head that once stood tall and proud now clung to him, revealing him to be much shorter than he presented himself to be. She wondered whether he intentionally styled them that way or if it was natural. Come to think of it, Revali had braids. Did that mean he had hair or was the braid composed of feathers? Is there a difference between the two?

So much she didn’t know about not just him, but of the Rito in general. It wouldn’t hurt to improve relations between Rito Village and Zora’s Domain, learn more about the others’ culture and such.

Purely diplomatic, of course.

Seeing his expression, she put a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles, “Perhaps some swim lessons are in order.”

“Whatever,” he retorted as he rolled his eyes at her, her giggles starting up again, much to his embarrassment. “Can we just go now?” he grumbled as he lightly shook his body and began to walk towards the shore.

And as if his predicament couldn't get any worse, he seemed to have taken a misstep, sending him back into the shallow water with an ungraceful fall and a squawk. With a hand to her mouth, Mipha desperately tried to stifle her laughter as she stared at the fallen Champion beneath her in an attempt to save him some face.

“Out with it, princess,” he sighed, utterly defeated as he lay in the shallow water, “go ahead, get it out of your system.”

The Zora Princess erupted into laughter, her arms at her stomach as she leaned forward. Her sharp fangs showed and the sound of her jewelry clinking together with her movements accompanied her laughter. It was a laugh that sounded genuine, not like the quiet chuckles and giggles he had heard of her before. She laughed in a way unrestrained from her title as Princess and obligations to be polite and courteous. Her laugh was genuine, one that only those close to her had been able to cause.

Sometime during her fit, she bent over to offer a hand to Revali, who accepted. She noted the difference in their hand sizes, his wing completely encompassing her hand for only a brief moment. His wing had been warm to the touch despite just having been submerged in cool water much unlike the Zora who relied on their surroundings to dictate their internal body temperature. Considering the Rito were descendants of the Zora, she had yet to see a similarity between her and Revali. Regardless, they began to walk towards the Domain as the sun began to hang low in the sky.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get too far before Revali lingered behind her and once a safe distance away, shook his entire body, akin to the way Mipha had once seen a Hylian retriever shake to get water off it. Well, at least he stayed far enough behind to not get water all over her; that was polite of him, she thought.

She laughed once more again to Revali's dismay, she managed to get out something about a Hylian retriever between her giggles and Revali sighed at the comparison.

The sound of her laughter, despite it being at his expense, wasn't totally unwelcome. The more he heard her laughter and saw the smile on her face as she tried to cover her mouth, the more he found himself smiling, too.

He gave in with a few chuckles before giving a playful pout to the princess, “We best be going, it's getting late, princess.” He began to walk next to her up the hill, her hand coming down from her face and brushing against the Rito. The touch wasn’t totally unwelcome, though he’d never admit that.

— Present

So, after all his complaints and groans regarding Lanayru, sharing such a serene moment together on East Reservoir Lake was a breath of fresh air. She remembered how his face softened as he overlooked the domain. She smiled to herself at the memory, maybe a visit to the domain was in order. For swim lessons, of course, nothing more. But maybe she did want to see him again in some weird way, despite his arrogance and sarcastic remarks; maybe she could get him to open up to her little by little.

He made her laugh, even if it was unintentional and at his expense at times, and maybe that's part of why she wanted to see him again.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t until weeks later that a letter addressed to Revali arrived at Rito Village. Scratch that, two letters actually.

Revali sat cross-legged inside the hut at the Flight Range in front of the small pot located in the center of the room, mushroom skewers barely sizzling atop the fire. He had a group of “students” earlier in the day at the flight range. It was a simple lesson today, teaching them basic technique in archery and some even practiced aerial combat using the updrafts within the Flight Range.

It was strange to Revali. He had little patience, he was arrogant, and he was much too proud for his own good, yet his demeanor changed when he taught the young fledglings. He heard the way the Rito children spoke about him and how many wished to one day be as skilled as he was; he knew how much they looked up to him. How could he be harsh with them?

Maybe it was because he saw a part of himself in them. Their eagerness to learn and improve, their dedication to honing their skills, it all reminded him of when he was a young fledgling with nothing to his name and a goal to prove himself to the world. He was still young himself with much more improvement yet to come, so to become such a role model at his young age made him feel accomplished in a way. This was his way of giving back to the village that raised him.

He was pulled out of his thoughts as he heard footsteps approaching the hut and making their way up the ladder. He looked up to find it was Akotli who was accompanied by his younger brother, who stood nervously behind him, fidgeting with his bow anxiously. Revali stood from where he was sitting on the floor.

“Master Revali, we’re sorry to just barge in unannounced but Armell here…,” Akotli nudged the smaller Rito forward who held out his bow which had a snapped string, “well, you can see the problem,” Akotli lightly chuckled in an attempt to quell his brother’s nervousness and set a better atmosphere. This went unknown to Armell who finally stepped forward to meet the Rito Champion. The little Rito held out his bow with a quivering beak, his eyes cast to the ground to avoid Revali’s gaze. “I wasn’t careful and I snapped the string,” he said, his voice small and fragile, obviously worried he would be in some sort of trouble. Revali knelt down to be at the boy’s level and took the bow into his own hands as he inspected the damage.

“Oh, Armell, why are you upset?” Revali spoke in a voice much softer than his usual one. He tilted his head slightly as he awaited the boy’s answer.

“Because it’s my fault it broke.” His small wing came up to brush a stray tear from his face before trying to put on a stern face and look up at the Champion.

Revali chuckled, “Well, you’re in luck because we can fix this.” The little fledgling’s eyebrows quirked up, “My own bow needs to be restrung as well. If you stop by tomorrow morning, I’ll be happy to teach you how,” Armell slowly quit sniffling as he realized his problem had a solution and that Revali himself would help him. The little boy felt a wing on his shoulder and looked up at his brother, “See, what’d I tell ya? You’re not in trouble,” Akotli spoke lightheartedly, and a shy smile slowly made its way on Armell’s face.

A greeting coming from the direction of the landing pad of the Flight Range captured their attention as a tall Rito with a messenger bag landed. The Rito postman, Quill, made his way towards Revali as he rummaged around his leather messenger bag before pulling out two envelopes. “It seems you have a letter from Hyrule’s Royal Family,” he said as he held it out for Revali to grab before returning his attention to the other letter he fished out of his bag, “and one all the way from Zora’s Domain…”

“Ugh, give me that,” Revali snapped the letter out of the other’s hand, perhaps too fast and defensively given the suspicious expression the postman wore before it morphed into a slight smirk. The tall postman’s expression turned to one of amusement as he looked down at Revali, eyeing him down. “Don’t you have other mail to deliver, Quill?” Revali’s tone made it clear it was a directive to scram rather than a question. Quill let out a small chuckle, earning him a glare in response, “Of course I do. Anyway, gotta fly!” The Rito postman walked over to the platform of the Flight Range and took off.

Akotli and Armell stood side by side as they watched the postman take off, bound for Rito Village, before turning to face Revali who took his seat in front of the cooking pot. He examined the letter from Zora’s Domain, admiring the wax seal with the crest of the Zora pressed into it as well as the neat cursive handwriting that spelled out “Master Revali”. He felt a small smile tug at the corners of his beak as he carefully began to open the letter. Had Mipha thought of him recently? Well, obviously yes since she had written to him. But had she thought of him for the last few weeks? Did she want to see him again? Maybe she wrote to invite him to the Domain? He felt nervous despite all these possibilities being positive. Why was he nervous? Did she also feel this way when she wrote to him?

“Who’s that letter from, Revali? Finally got a giiirlfriend?” His friend’s singsong tone pulled him out from the clouds of his mind and into reality. Ugh, not this again.

“No! Of course not! I have no such thing,” he retorted and ran a wing through his braids in an attempt to brush it off, “both of you, shoo!” he motioned them with his wing and Armell giggled. “I’ll have him here tomorrow morning then,” Akotli said as the pair made their way to the platform, giving Revali a smirk before turning around and taking off, Armell quickly followed suit.

“Just asinine,” he muttered as he flipped his skewers, frowning at the slightly darker than usual side of the mushrooms that now faced up. He reached over and tore open the letter from Hyrule’s Royal Family first, skimming through it.

A “Wing Ceremony”?

He’d heard of such a ceremony dating back to the times when Hyrule was not Hyrule, but rather a collection of islands suspended in the sky. Such an ancient legend has been passed down for millennia, but why bring it back now? Perhaps it was an attempt to assure Hyrule that their goddess Hylia would turn to them in their time of need with the Calamity looming threat. The letter noted that the ceremony would take place at the Forgotten Temple at the base of the northern end of Tanagar Canyon in a few months with construction along the canyon necessary to create a way for people to make their way to the base of the canyon.

He scoffed, realizing that an event so close to Tabantha would likely bring an influx of people to the stables of Tabantha and Hebra, perhaps even Rito Village. Well, maybe the owner of Brazen Beak could make a few rupees should ignorant Hylians suddenly decide to travel into Hebra without proper gear, same thing for the owner of Swallow’s Roost. Tourism, as much as Revali did not care for it, was a source of revenue for Rito Village, so maybe it wasn’t entirely bad. At the bottom of the letter was the crest of Hyrule stamped in place of a signature.

He folded the letter back up and stored it away neatly in one of the chests of the Flight Range that he had claimed, seeing as he was spending more and more time here than his shared hut back in the village. He sat for a moment as he eyed the remaining letter from where it laid next to him, the anxiety and anticipation coming over him once more.

He took the letter in his hands once again and began unfolding the letter, a small smile on his face as he began to read before it utterly dropped. Swim lessons? There was no way she had been serious! He cringed at the memory of when he made himself out to be a fool who couldn't swim in front of her; this felt a little patronizing. But upon further reading the letter, he realized it was all in good nature and that, more importantly, she did wish to formally show him Zora’s Domain. She had a very distinct way of writing; her penmanship was neat and with a lot of looping within the letters, it exuded grace. What she wrote was even more distinct; she wrote exactly like she spoke, making his inner voice as he read slowly morph into her sweet voice.

At the bottom of the letter remained one more paragraph detailing that she had spoken to Sidon about him and that the little prince was ecstatically looking forward to meeting the Rito Champion.

How could he deny the little prince?

Mipha ended the letter stating that she was looking forward to seeing him again soon and that she’d be waiting.

Revali was never one to keep others waiting, now was he?

He neatly folded the letter back up and stored it away with the other and took the skewers off the cooking pot, letting his back rest on the wall of the hut as he let his mind wander. Next morning, a quick lesson in bow maintenance and restringing, a quick stop with the Elder to let him know of his travel plans, and he’d be on his way to Zora’s Domain. He couldn’t wait.

— Zora’s Domain, the following day.

A sudden splash into her private pool woke her in the early hours of the morning. A small blob of crismon wrapped its little arms around her and she looked down to find her little brother, Sidon. Mipha swam to the edge of her pool and pulled herself out before pulling Sidon out as well. “When is he coming? Can he really fly? Can he teach me how to fly? Is he on his way already?” The young prince eagerly bombarded his sister with questions and for a moment, Mipha questioned if she should have even told him about Revali.

“I’m sure he’s on his way as we speak.” She knelt in front of him and smiled as Sidon beamed that signature grin of his, excited at the prospect of making a new friend, “However, you need to be polite and courteous when you meet him, understood? We don’t want our friend to get spooked by so many questions now would we?”

He nodded his head as Mipha stood and made her way to her vanity area, “Now then, why don’t you go wake father so we can have breakfast?” The little prince ran off without another word, the little pitter-patter of his feet against the stone floor slowly dissipating as he exited the room. Mipha began to put on her jewelry and donned her Champion garb, casting a momentary glance at her old sash and some jewelry she had exchanged for the teal sash. She frowned. Surely after Calamity Ganon was sealed she could go back to wearing them. She walked over to her pool and looked at her reflection in the water.

Such a cheerful start to her morning yet now she was plagued with the thought of her own mortality. She knew one day she would have to face her fate with Ruta, with the Calamity. Time and time again, Ganon had managed to be sealed every single time, what made this time any different? Hylia would not turn her back on them now, would she? She shivered at the thought that if she were to in fact turn her back on Hyrule, what would it entail for her? For Hyrule?

What would become of her father and brother? Her people? Herself?

She shook her head lightly before looking at her reflection again, adjusting the length of her sash before smiling to herself. Worrying would do her no good, she needed to make the best of each and every day from here on out.

After a short breakfast with her father and brother, she paced along the plaza anxiously. She let the guards at the entrance of the Domain know of the visitor she was expecting, she’d kindly asked for Marot to make sure ice arrows were in stock. She had even swam up to the canopy-like room atop the dam and made sure the room was nice and tidy. After all her preparations, she was back to pacing the length of the Great Zora Bridge anxiously.

Not too long after, Mipha could make out a figure soaring towards the Domain before landing at the foot of the bridge. Revali landed gracefully, the Zora guards gave him a nod in acknowledgement and let him be on his way. He debated just flying rather than to walk the length of the bridge but he figured unleashing his gale within the domain might be a little rude and besides, he had no idea where he would even land. He was in foreign territory that was so unlike anywhere he had ever set foot.

He spotted the Zora Princess walking towards him from the other end of the bridge, it was a little awkward for him. Too far away to engage in conversation but too close to look away and pretend he didn’t see her, however she didn’t seem to mind this. They met at the halfway point of the bridge and stood for a moment, Revali admiring her quietly.

Observing, not admiring.

Just observing the way her jewelry moved with her, the way she pinned her sash so that the emblem of Vah Ruta was exposed, the Zora crest in her headpiece that was adorned with a bright gemstone that matched the ones in her necklace and brooch that held her Champion garb in place.

Not admiring, observing.

“Princess Mipha,” he spoke first, giving a small nod when addressing her though he wasn’t sure it was correct. Does one bow to a princess? Or kneel? He merely knew of such customs but had never formally asked what was proper. He chose the safe option and hoped they were past that point in their friendship.

“Revali,” she greeted, “I hope you did not go through too much trouble getting here.” He gave her a sheepish grin before realizing what dumb face he was giving her and instead spoke, “It was a smooth trip of course, no trouble at all,” he admitted boastfully.

“Well then, allow me to introduce you to my father,” she began to walk towards the domain, turning her head before Revali caught up to her and the two walked side by side, “How was your morning, Revali?”

“Nothing much, I taught one of my students how to restring their bow,” he spoke rather humbly, Mipha noting there was no boastful tone when he spoke now. “One of your students?” Mipha asked, turning her head to face Revali.

“Well, technically. Elder Tenali suggested the Flight Range be open to all Rito, both adults and fledgelings, in preparation for the Calamity,” he paused after the last word before continuing, “he insisted they learn from me and who am I to refuse the Elder,” his eyes softened as he continued to look ahead, avoiding Mipha’s gaze.

“Well, they must be quite skilled with the great Revali as their teacher,” she met his gaze and he made a face that was a mix of modesty and bashfulness before he set his eyes to the domain they approached, “Well, of course” he managed out, though there was no real cockiness to his words. Mipha smiled to herself as they continued in idle conversation before reaching the plaza. The sculpture of Mipha stood in the center of the plaza, it was pretty hard to miss. Revali stood in front of it for a moment, observing the small details captured by the stone.

He felt a tug on one of his wings pulling him away, “Please, I must introduce you to my father,” her expression was coy and bashful. “What a beautiful statue,” Revali’s words escaped him and he quickly rushed to add literally anything that would distract the Zora from the fact he said “beautiful”, “the craftsmanship is quite intricate,” he quickly added.

Great cover up, Revali. She’ll definitely buy it.

Mipha sighed, “Father insists on keeping it here, dead center of the domain,” she let out a nervous chuckle before lowering her voice, “I’d have it literally anywhere else if it were up to me.” Revali gave a small, quiet chuckle seeing the usually so reserved and modest princess so bashful.

Another pull on his wing and he decided to follow, for her sake. If it were up to him, he could stare at the statue for hours. Not in a weird way. Just observing. You know, admiring the craftsmanship. Maybe he should let himself be pulled away, for his sake.

Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the Zora King, tall and imposing. Did the Zora usually grow that tall? According to Elder Tenali, he had ruled for centuries; was he still growing? Revali suddenly felt small both physically and metaphorically. Here he stood in front of the Zora King and the Zora council as a simple warrior from his village. Not to mention that the king was huge, quite literally the elephant in the room. All eyes were on the Zora Princess and her guest.

“Father, Champion Revali will be visiting the domain,” she spoke casually yet courteously and Revali bowed his head out of respect, “Your Majesty,” he spoke proudly, he was a Champion after all. If he didn't fit in by nature, he would at least fake it.

“Greetings, Champion Revali.” The King spoke, his voice low and slightly raspy, “What brings you to our humble domain?” King Dorephan smiled, the corners of his eyes creasing with wrinkles, a testament to his century long reign. Revali’s brain short circuited. He wasn’t about to respond “swim lessons” in front of people who took to swimming like the Rito took to flying.

“Training,” he responded after a quick pause, “I wish to improve my spear fighting skills and seeing as your daughter’s skills are in a class of her own, I wish to learn from her.” The Zora Princess’s eyes widened for a split second; that wasn’t the reason for his visit. She summed it up to him trying to save face. Even then, Mipha smiled, such high praise from Revali was rare, though she thought it was maybe because he was in front of the King, her father. Even Seggin, her teacher who taught her how to wield her trident, smiled. Even Muzu gave a slight smile at the foreigner in their home.

The King smiled, “Very well then, I do hope you enjoy your stay, Champion Revali.”

After formally meeting the king, Revali and Mipha walked out into the domain plaza. Revali held back the urge to make a face as he felt stares from some inhabitants of the domain, he was here as a guest afterall. He allowed Mipha to guide him to the eastern bridge connecting the domain to the surrounding land.

“Champion Revali!” a little voice, unfamiliar to Revali, caught his attention and the duo turned around. The source of the voice was unknown for a moment before he looked down, a little Zora of similar coloring to Mipha at their feet.

“Sidon!” Mipha kneeled as she patted the little Zora’s head before messing with the little feather on his headpiece, “Revali, this is my little brother, Sidon.” She looked up at Revali, her eyes softened as she smiled. “Well then, hello little Sidon-”

“Can you really fly? Can you?” the little Zora prince jumped eagerly, jumping closer and closer to Revali who stumbled back at the young prince’s enthusiasm. Mipha grabbed him by his shoulder, “Remember Sidon, you must ask politely. Let’s try that again now, shall we?”

Sidon exhaled and gave a nervous nod before standing in front of Revali, “Can you really fly?” the boy said much more calmly. Revali smiled, “Of course I can fly!” Sidon, unable to keep his excitement still, jumped up, “Can you teach me how to fly? Pretty please?” Revali looked over at Mipha with a puzzled expression while Mipha shrugged her shoulders, obviously not wanting to disappoint Sidon. “Since we don’t have wings, we can’t fly, little brother.” Mipha explained, Sidon slightly slouching in response with a frown on his face.

Revali knelt to be at the same level as the young Zora, “But swimming is a lot like flying, just in the water. I’m sure you’re a very strong swimmer, aren't you now?” Revali spoke, the little prince nodding with a smile.

“Whenever you swim up waterfalls, it’s like you’re flying up stream!” Mipha chimed in and Sidon’s spirits were high once again. “Now, why don’t you go practice while me and Master Revali train, hm?”

And with not another word, the little prince was off back to the domain.

“Swimming up waterfalls?” Revali asked as they began to walk down the bridge.

“Correct. It is like a rite of passage for the Zora,” she responded, “Sidon has been practicing lately, though he has yet to find success.” She said the last part rather softly.

“...Can you swim up waterfalls?”

They approached Mikau Lake where a waterfall was. “Would you like a demonstration?” Mipha looked over at Revali, a smile on her face.

Revali nodded and Mipha walked into the lake, swimming towards the crashing waterfall. There was no one someone of her size wouldnt simply get swept away from the powerful currents of the waterfall. Mipha was in fact much more resilient than she looked. Revali followed her as she dove underwater and made her appearance up the waterfall, jumping and diving into the stream before landing at the top. She was pure grace. Revali stood in awe.

“Your turn!” Mipha yelled from up top as she waved to Revali who stood at the base. He rolled his eyes and unleashed his gale, riding the wind currents as he ascended to the top of the waterfall, meeting Mipha once more. They repeated this process again up the waterfall of Lulu Lake, closer to Ploymus Mountain.

— Ploymus Mountain

“I trust you have some experience with wielding a spear,” Mipha spoke as she unholstered her Lightscale Trident from her back, walking towards one side of the flat area atop the mountain. She turned to face him once again, tilting her head as she awaited his response.

Revali stood opposite of her and held the Zora Spear, slightly fumbling with the weapon. Unlike the Feathered Spear, the only spear he’d ever handled, the smooth metal of what he currently held had nothing added for grip, no leather or woven thread where one’s hand might be placed. “It would be foolish if I chose to train only my archery skills,” he spoke confidently, and Mipha smirked despite the Rito’s cockiness, “don’t go easy on me, princess.”

To ensure fairness, Revali had (begrudgingly) agreed to refrain from using his gale for their first few matches. Tightening his grip on the spear, he stayed in a ready position as Mipha began her countdown. The two were evenly matched for a while. However, Revali relied primarily on offensive attacks, leaving his guard down while Mipha dodged his jab and grazed his side with her trident. He was caught off guard and stumbled back while Mipha continued to close in on him, pushing him closer and closer to a nearby boulder. Eventually, his back met stone and he stumbled off his feet, felt cool, sharp prongs against his neck, forcing his head up towards the Zora who now loomed over him.

“Do you yield?” She pressed her weapon closer in case he’d refuse and Revali winced in response.

“I yield.” He responded breathlessly as the cool metal moved away from him. He attempted to stand back up and winced slightly, hoping Mipha wouldn’t notice and they’d continue onto another match. A firm push on his shoulder sent him back down and Mipha kneeled next to him, “Please, allow me to heal you,” Revali gave no protest and moved his arm so she would have better access to his torso. He’d never seen her healing magic up close, keeping his eyes on her hands as he felt her nails lightly graze the area surrounding his scrape. A soft blue glow emanated from her palms and his pain was alleviated, leaving a very miniscule soreness in its stead. Unknowingly, his eyes had drifted to her. He watched her now lidded eyes and slightly pursed lips as she worked in concentration. He wondered what went through her mind when she healed if anything at all. When he practiced his gale, he usually found his mind racing as he ascended higher and higher into the whirlwind. Did she think similarly? Or maybe she needed complete silence in her mind? Why did he care what she thought? Why was his mind racing now like whenever he unleashes his gale?

“Revali?”

His eyes widened as he realized he’d been lost in thought, likely staring at her. “Princess, I uh,” his mind raced yet again, “I zoned out, that’s all. My apologies.”

She frowned slightly, “Are you feeling well? We can continue again tomorrow…”

“I appreciate your concern, princess,” he began to stand and picked up his weapon, “but it’s entirely misplaced. Now then, ready for another match?”

Mipha smiled, baring her sharp teeth and pressing her hands together in excitement, and Revali felt a sharp pang in his chest. He found himself smiling back at her and even after she turned her back as she made her way back to the opposite end of their makeshift arena, he continued to smile.

What’s gotten into him?

The sun, once overhead, now hung lower as the sky turned orange. Their sparring had been successful with Mipha taking time to show Revali different moves and techniques that had been developed by the Zora and even by herself. Her skills really were in a class of its own. The pair walked to Shatterback Point, the very tip of Ploymus Mountain, and stood at the ledge. Vah Ruta now rested in East Reservoir Lake, how Revali hadn’t noticed earlier was beyond him.

“That is Vah Ruta, I assume?” The divine beast was enormous in size, Revali half worried that it would suddenly move and crush him in one fell swoop. “Don’t let her size fool you, she’s actually quite gentle.” Mipha looked over at Revali, gauging his reaction which was that of total awe.

“Thank Hylia that Medoh can fly, Ruta here could crush her with a stomp of her leg,” he joked, Mipha giggling in response. A loud roar emanated from the divine beast in response as if offended. “I don’t think she liked that,” the Zora chuckled, “he didn’t mean it Ruta!,” Mipha yelled as she waved at Ruta and the large mechanical beast seemed to understand, lowering its trunk deeper into the water.

“Anyway, it’s getting late,” Mipha spoke as she looked at the now colorful sky surrounding the setting sun, “I’ll race you there!” She gestured at the room Revali had stayed in the last time he was at the domain. “Alright but I won’t let you win easily, princess.”

He agreed to give Mipha a head start and she dove from the ledge and once she hit the water, Revali took off using the ledge as a platform similarly how other Rito used the various landing pads in the village to take flight. As he flew close to the surface of the water, a familiar crimson made its way into his eyesight. He paralleled her from above and their race ended in a draw, much to Revali’s surprise.

The sun finally set, though Mipha stayed with Revali for dinner. There was a cooking pot stationed inside the room within the stone counters as well as stools, a small cabinet with some kitchen supplies like a knife and various seasonings and non-perishable ingredients. As Revali started the fire and gathered ingredients, Mipha caught a few fish and fileted them, allowing for Revali to skewer and season them.

Mipha sat on one of the stools, her chin resting on her hand as she watched Revali cook. She spoke about anything and everything, from stories of battles to stories of her family. It was mundane conversation with Revali occasionally chiming in. Typically, Revali was not one for small talk, but the more he listened to her talk, the more he found himself smiling and even lightly laughing. He didn’t care if it was about the most boring things in the world, he wanted to listen to her. He liked listening to her. After a while, Revali took the skewers off the fire and handed Mipha her meal as he took a seat across from her. “I hope it's to your liking, princess.”

Mipha took a bite, the spice enhancing the flavor of the fish which had been cooked to perfection, tenderness in every bite, “Delicious! This tastes very good, Revali. Where did you learn to cook like this?” She beamed and continued to eat, Revali’s surprised expression gone unnoticed by her. “Oh, I uh… well, I’ve had a lot of time to practice whenever I stay overnight at the Flight Range.” Mipha looked up and was met with a rather bashful expression, Revali quickly avoided eye contact with her and instead busied himself eating his own portion. “Thank you, princess.” He added, his voice small and honest.

What Mipha didn’t know was that it was his first time cooking for anyone besides himself. He felt another little pang in his chest in response to her praise, maybe he should get that checked out? For now, he was content sitting here enjoying a meal with his… friend, engaging in pleasant conversation with such a beautiful sight in front of him. The domain, of course. Not her.

She said her goodbyes and assured Revali she had not forgotten about the real reason he was here, that she would be here early in the morning for his lessons. He wished her a good night, adding another goodnight to relay for the little prince, too. She dove into the waters of the lake below the dam, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Tomorrow was a new day; he looked forward to it.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Mipha met him atop the dam, the pair engaged in dull small talk to fill the otherwise quiet morning as they walked toward Ploymus Mountain. Somewhere along their walk, Mipha had inquired about traditional Rito weapons, curious if they were any different from Zora gear, considering the Rito are said to have descended from the Zora.

“Well, now that you mention it,” Revali glanced over at the Zora Princess who walked alongside him, honey gold eyes meeting him as her face turned into one of curiosity. Her eyes glimmered with wonder as her eyebrows quirked up. Well, whatever the Zora equivalent of eyebrows was, anyway. He felt the same twinge in his chest he’d felt the day before, he pulled his eyes away from hers and glued them on the path in front of them. That was weird.

“Well, uh…” he stuttered awkwardly, suddenly his mind blanked. There were a lot of differences between Rito and Zora weapons, and he was always eager to show off his culture, but something about the way she’d asked with such genuine curiosity completely threw him into a loop. Did she really want to learn more about his culture? More about him? Or was she just being polite and making conversation?

Regardless, he straightened his thoughts and cleared his throat. “Well, for starters, Rito weapons are made of wood or some combination of lightweight metal and wood, which is lighter and easier for us to carry in aerial fighting.” Mipha tilted her head as she listened. Revali wasn’t that much of a talker besides his boasting, though it seemed he was passionate when it came to educating others on Rito customs; they were a prideful bunch, it seemed.

“Oh!” She inhaled sharply, akin to a gasp as she realized, “Is this spear too heavy for you? I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t consider our differences in anatomy would affect our weapons…” She trailed off before being interrupted by a chuckle. Revali turned his head to face her, amusement laced in his voice. “I appreciate your concern, but again, princess, it’s entirely misplaced.” Mipha looked up at him, puzzled, only to be met with a proud smirk, the one he wore whenever he boasted about his skills. Well, there's Revali’s usual self again, she thought.

“Many Rito wouldn’t be able to handle such a weapon as it would slow them down in aerial combat, my bow is too heavy for the average Rito to wield,” he unholstered his bow and held it out for Mipha to see the gears hidden at the ends of bow, “the gear mechanism was uniquely made for me, it requires more strength to draw the string but results in a more powerful blow.” Mipha studied his mannerisms, his habit of gesticulating prevalent when he spoke of something he was passionate about. It seemed as if his wings motioned as he spoke. He settled his bow back onto its holster and placed a wing to his chest. “Of course, with my superior strength and speed, I can assure you I am more than capable of handling a little metal spear, princess.”

Mipha sighed. Typical Revali. “Well then, let’s put your abilities to the test.” They neared the top of the mountain. Revali gave a “hmph” in response, eager to settle the score.

— Ploymus Mountain, again.

“I see you’re a fast learner, Revali.” Mipha had thrust her trident against him, but he blocked it at the last second, a clear improvement in his defensive strategy. He made something between a “hmph” and a grunt in response, a slight smirk at the corner of his beak as a clear indicator to Mipha that he acknowledged the praise. Mipha could only study his expression for a mere moment before it melted back into the stern one he usually wore when sparring.

She noticed that he had that habit, though. He loved to boast his skills to others, but couldn’t come up with a smart response whenever someone genuinely praised him; instead, he’d huff and look away or try to put on a different expression. As they continued to spar, Mipha noted the implementation of her teachings in his technique, along with some more polished moves that she could only assume were of Rito origin.

He was surprisingly agile despite being on land. She had seen him in battle before, swiftly dodging enemy attacks and moving ever so quickly as the enemy struggled to keep its eyes on him. He was graceful in that sense, she thought. She wondered when they’d get a chance to spar with their usual weapons; she wished to see him in his element. Perhaps tomorrow, should time allow for it. She was still rather unsure of the duration of his stay here in her domain. Well, they’ll see tomorrow.

— Lulu Lake

“Must I really do this?” Revali groaned as he placed a foot into the water before quickly pulling it back out. He crossed his wings and looked away from Mipha, who was standing in waist-deep water already, her trident discarded along the lake’s shore nearby.

“Seeing as it was the primary reason for your visit, yes.” Mipha gave him an unimpressed look before she turned around to wade into deeper waters and smirked, “Of course, I understand if this is too…challenging for you.” She heard Revali scoff and mutter something under his breath, followed by the sound of his cuirass, spaulders, and Champion garb (which he neatly folded) being tossed on the ground along with his bow and quiver. He stepped into the water, albeit slowly. Mipha smiled to herself as she knew Revali had taken the bait; that was another aspect of Revali she had come to learn about.

He was terribly predictable when it came to being underestimated. He could be very contrary if he deemed it necessary. Someone could tell him he can’t do something; he’ll do it just to spite them. He hated being underestimated; it was obvious by the way he carried himself. Mipha wondered what had happened in his life that would result in such a sentiment.

Revali continued to make his way deeper until he stood a few feet away from Mipha. She turned to face him. “Let’s work on floating first, shall we?” Revali wanted nothing more than for this to be over, but something forced him to stay. Had this been anyone else, he would've been mocking and difficult. But he couldn't find it in him to be like that with Mipha, not when she had welcomed him to her domain and been so incredibly hospitable, not when she offered him genuine praise and help, and especially not when she flashed that warm and gentle smile at him. Some sentiment made him stay here with her, even if it meant being fully submerged in water.

After some time getting used to the slight pressure on his chest as he breathed while in now neck-deep water, Mipha managed to guide him into a horizontal position similar to that of lying down with one hand holding him up at his back and the other at his upper leg, his wings spread out from him. “Take a deep breath with me,” she spoke, though he couldn't help but mentally roll his eyes as he realized just how embarrassing his current situation really was, to him at least. The great Revali, recently inaugurated as the youngest chief commander in Rito history and champion of the skies, the pride of Rito Village, was currently in the arms of the beautiful Zora Princess like some damsel in distress.

Regardless, he did as he was told. “I’m going to let go of you now, but should you sink, I will be here to pull you up, alright?” He felt one of her hands let go of him, and he sank ever so slightly, water rippling gently at the sides of his head and muffling his hearing. He felt his upper body floating on the water’s surface, and for a moment, he realized that this was rather easy; maybe he’d even be able to do this first try. His thoughts changed as she let go of his lower body.

Oh Hylia was he so wrong.

The moment he felt his lower half begin to sink, he panicked. The combination of the feeling of falling as he remained off his feet, the water in his ears, and his lack of sight as he shut his eyes to avoid the water sent him into a panic, his ragged breaths only making him sink faster. His wings thrashed in the water as he stumbled to get back on his feet. He felt Mipha’s hands pulling him up and out of the water, her hands remaining on his shoulders as he steadied himself to stand upright. “This is pointless,” he grumbled as he shook his head, avoiding her gaze. This was humiliating. He was failing at something as simple as floating. He turned, and the second he tried to walk away, surprisingly strong hands pulled him back.

“Revali,” she began, her voice firm yet gentle, but not so soft that Revali would find her tone patronizing. She kept a hand on his wing as she carefully began to choose her next words. He was embarrassed, completely out of his element, and most of all vulnerable; any condescending word could trigger his flight response, and any progress they had made would be lost. “When I first began swimming up waterfalls, I failed countless times. Despite that, I continued to try, and well, you saw how I swam up one yesterday.”

He turned to face her, his expression dejected as he looked down at her. He remained silent as if considering whether Mipha’s consolation was enough to convince him to try again. Her honey-gold eyes met his, her lips slightly pursed and her head tilted to the side as she awaited his response. How could he leave when she looked at him in such a way?

“Fine, fine,” he stammered as he shook his head and muttered something under his breath, nonetheless staying in the water. “Let’s try this one more time, shall we?” She held up a finger and tilted her head, offering Revali an encouraging smile.

A few tries later, Revali was finally getting the hang of it. He could now float on his own with a relatively low failure rate. He seemed to be getting more and more comfortable in the water, too, no longer bothered by having his head underwater and resurfacing on his own, not to mention he had gotten used to the additional weight of his now soaked feathers. “Watch this!” he’d exclaim and show off as he managed to float on his back with no assistance and now discovered actual swimming (which was actually just basic doggy paddling, but hey, progress!), he had even chuckled as he recalled his previous failures, and Mipha couldn’t help but laugh with him.

She wondered why he seemed so proud of this new feat. As far as she knew, the Rito were just as capable of swimming, perhaps not like the Zora, but they could manage. Maybe he really did have a fear of water initially, making this a much bigger victory than she initially saw it as. She wouldn’t press him for answers now; instead, she’d enjoy this much more social and cheery Revali. Who knows when he’d ever outwardly express joy like this again?

As the sun began to loom further west, Revali stepped out of the pond and called it a day, letting himself air dry before donning his usual attire. Mipha opted to remain in the water, dull conversation occasionally filling the silence before fizzling out, while the Rito began slipping on his base tunic.

He suddenly stopped in place, his head tilting one direction before he used his gale to take off abruptly. Mipha got on her feet, sensing that there was a threat nearby, and grabbed her trident from where she had laid it on the edge of the water. She looked up at Revali, who was already making his descent. He landed swiftly and quickly rushed to secure his quiver on his belt and place his bow on his back.

“A monster army approaches your domain from the eastern bridge.”

She rushed to the cliffside ledge where another waterfall began and fed into the lake below them. Seeing the group of bokoblins and lizalfos marching to the domain, they needed to act swiftly. “We must go at once,” she commanded, jumping off the ledge and riding the waterfall as Revali used his gale once more to head towards the domain.

— Eastern Zora Bridge

They approached the enemy army from behind while Zora guards had met the monsters head-on at the edge of the bridge where the domain met the land. The army was composed of red bokoblins and green lizalfos, the weaker subgroups of their species, so while bothersome, the two Champions could easily repel their attacks. What was unusual was the pesky thunder wizzrobe that attacked from the center of the group, which made it a challenge to land any solid hits before the majority of the smaller monsters were wiped out.

Mipha had fought and killed wizzrobes before, but electric monsters in general required more caution. She managed to avoid its attacks, swiftly dodging the electric orbs that it summoned with its wand. Somewhere in between the fighting, she had noticed Revali was not being targeted as much in the sky as she was by the wizzrobe on the ground. She called out to him, “Attack from the sky, and I’ll distract it from the ground.” He glanced at her amidst the chaos and gave a quick nod before ascending higher, free from the range of the monster’s attacks. The Zora soldiers had pushed the remaining bokoblins further away from the entrance of the domain, leaving Mipha and Revali against the wizzrobe still on the bridge.

The tide was in their favor as the wizzrobe grew weaker and its attacks became less accurate, allowing Mipha to finally land some solid blows with her trident as Revali continued the assault from above. Revali smirked as the wizzrobe was close to being defeated. He also noted just how well he and Mipha’s fighting styles complemented each other, though he quickly pushed that thought to the back of his head.

From the corner of his eye, he was able to make out another small crimson blob that he initially didn’t think twice about. Why were there now two crimson figures in his line of sight?

Oh Hylia.

The little Zora Prince charged toward the wizzrobe with his spear in hand, ready to attack the vicious monster that had been targeting his sister. Unfortunately, Sidon tripped and landed on the ground with a thud, his little face contorting into an expression of pain as he struggled to get back on his feet, but even then, what could he do? The wizzrobe pranced above the ground, occasionally twirling and becoming invisible for a few moments, leaving the pair to anxiously retarget the foe as it reappeared in a different location. Mipha, who now stood on the other side of the wizzrobe, rushed to her brother, but it was too late. Revali heard that wretched thing laugh its deranged laugh as it aimed its wand at the little Zora, a bright light ensuing.

While he had previously boasted of his speed and strength proudly, Mipha saw that the Rito did have the skill to back up his claims. Revali dove and grabbed the young prince by his belt with his talons, narrowly avoiding the attack as he dragged him into the sky. Revali locked eyes with Mipha. “One more hit and that thing’s defenses are down,” he yelled as he landed a safe distance away from the ongoing fight, putting the small prince down but remaining by his side. “Hit it in its weak point!”

Quickly glancing over her shoulder to see her brother was safe as he held onto Revali’s leg in an attempt to hide from the monster, she thrusted her trident at the enemy as it fell over, allowing her to perform a special attack that ultimately defeated it. The wizzrobe exploded into a dark cloud, leaving behind its wand, and the few monsters that remained began to retreat into the surrounding mountains.

Mipha turned and rushed to where Revali and Sidon stood, her arms open as she knelt to be at the prince’s level. Sidon let go of Revali’s leg and darted into his sister’s arms, burying his face in the crook of Mipha’s neck as he cried, his little body trembling with his sobs. His knees had some minor bruising from the fall he’d sustained earlier, nothing Mipha couldn’t easily heal. She broke the hug and got the little prince to sit down as she placed a hand over his knees, a soft blue glow emanating shortly after.

“Why would you try to fight that beast alone?” Her voice was laced with concern. Sidon could only look up at her for a moment before averting his gaze, timid at the feeling of being reprimanded. The soft light dissipated, and Mipha broke the silence. “Still, what a brave little brother I have,” she smiled and cupped his face. The young prince flashed his signature smile and giggled.

Revali found himself smiling as Mipha’s own laughter rang ever so clearly in his ears, like stars sparkling in the dark night sky. He’d always heard others claim that joy was contagious, though he’d never really believed it. Now, he knew. Her laughter was the most beautiful sound. Why didn’t everyone turn to catch it? Did nobody else hear what he did?

Okay, that was weird. What’s gotten into him?

He was pulled back into the moment at the mention of his name. “Now then, let’s thank Master Revali for saving you.” She knelt behind the prince with her hands on his shoulders, giving him a little pat on the shoulder for encouragement. Seeing how Sidon began to look up at him, Revali knelt on one knee to be level with the young Zora, realizing his height might’ve scared him a little, a small action that didn’t go unnoticed by Mipha.

“Thank you for saving me, Master Revali.” The prince fidgeted with his hands nervously, and the Rito let out a small, amused exhale. “Your sister is right, you know.” Mipha emitted a little “hm” at being mentioned, and Sidon tilted his head. “That was very brave, but as warriors, we also need to be careful. With proper training, you’ll grow big and strong to protect your sister. When you’re older, of course.” Sidon smiled at him as Mipha spoke, “Master Revali is right, one day you’ll be big and strong.” She pinched his cheek playfully, and the prince giggled. “You’ll always be my baby brother, though.”

“Lady Mipha!” A Zora captain called out as he rushed to her side, “A few soldiers sustained injuries…” he trailed off. Mipha quickly nodded in understanding. “I will be right with them, Seggin.” She got to her feet hastily. “Revali, please watch over him, will you?” She was off before Revali even nodded, leaving the two standing side by side as they watched her run off towards where some soldiers were lying down a short distance away from them. Revali winced as he observed the injured from afar, electricity coursing through their body as they twitched and seized. Sidon gasped at the sight, too.

Quickly, Revali placed a wing on the prince’s shoulder and nudged him, “C’mon, let’s go this way.” Sidon didn’t move, staring at the fallen soldiers in shock, unable to look away as Revali forcefully turned him away from the scene in front of them. The Rito frowned, seeing such a traumatic scene undoubtedly disturbed the little boy. “I’ll race you there!” Revali pointed ahead to the halfway mark of the bridge, closer to the domain, where there was a small roof, similar to a watchtower, and Sidon piped up at the mention of a game. The boy giggled as he began to run as fast as he could, Revali making sure he lagged slightly behind. Their race was certainly a tough call, though Revali made sure to slow down right before they reached the small watchtower, ultimately giving the win to the young prince who jumped up and down with joy.

“I beat you! I beat you!” He exclaimed, clenching his little fists as he waved his hands in the air. His excitement wore off and he climbed on top of a wooden crate that was pushed against the railing, his feet dangling as his excitement wore off. “Did you have to train hard to become super big and strong too, mister?”

The Rito Champion sighed. The kid had just seen the aftermath of a battle, yet he was so happy now. Kids were weird like that, he thought. “Of course, I did. I worked very hard to get to where I am now, kid.” Sidon kicked his feet idly. “Can you really fly? Is it hard to fly?” The kid was sure full of questions. Revali didn’t particularly enjoy answering questions, but as long as it kept the prince distracted, he’d oblige.

“Yes, I can fly-” he was interrupted by the Zora again, “Can you take me flying? Can you? Can you?” he pressed, his tone rising with every plea. Revali sighed and crossed his wings, “If your sister lets me, perhaps.” The Zora Prince opened his mouth yet again. No doubt this kid was full of questions. Revali tried his best to put on a smile despite the nagging pain in his side as his adrenaline from the battle began to wear off, and the prince continued to ask him multitudes of questions.

After what felt like an eternity with the small prince chatting his ear off, Mipha began to walk towards them, having healed the injured. Luckily for Revali, Sidon rushed to his sister as she came closer. She held his hand as the two walked along the bridge to where Revali remained. He folded his wings across his chest, slightly wincing as he moved but playing it off. Mipha eyes him down, and he averted her gaze, instead setting his expression to his usual stern one as he turned to look away. Mipha spoke to Seggin, instructing him to escort the prince back to his chambers and to inform her father of what had happened.

The Zora soldiers continued toward the domain, passing the Champions. Many expressed their gratitude to Mipha, some even bowing their heads slightly and acknowledging Revali. They left the duo alone, and Mipha began to walk away from the domain. Revali remained where he stood, unsure whether to follow her or not.

She stopped in her tracks and turned over her shoulder. “Join me, I’d like to show you Ruta.”

Who was Revali to keep her waiting? Part of him wanted to rush to her side, but for his dignity and self-respect, he settled on simply walking. Subconsciously, his pace was a little quicker than his usual walk. Weird.

— Vah Ruta’s Trunk

The pair sat at the edge of Ruta’s trunk, avoiding the metal grate that Revali could only assume Ruta would shoot water out of, as the divine beast began to move, positioning its trunk as high as it could while keeping it level. The sun was setting, and a cool breeze brushed past them, a sharp contrast to the chaos they had just endured. Mipha gazed at the horizon, the setting sun decorating the now brightly colored sky. Revali sat a short distance away from her, observing the Zora Princess silently. She abruptly turned to face him, and he quickly looked away. The surrounding cliffs and mountains suddenly seemed more interesting. “Revali,” she spoke softly, and he felt a small rush of adrenaline; she’d caught him staring, he didn’t doubt it. He half expected her to question him, though his racing heart quelled as she spoke, “Will you let me heal you now?”

“I’m perfectly fine, princess.” He responded sharply and crossed his wings. “I saw you wince earlier when you moved your wing. Let me help you.” He huffed in annoyance but said nothing more, remaining still while she moved towards him. “Revali…” she persisted, and he finally turned to face her, emerald eyes meeting amber ones. He sighed, defeated.

“If you must insist,” he held out his wing, and she took it, her scales tugging slightly at his feathers when she ran her hand against his plumage. Her hands were cool to the touch, and she worked to find exactly where his wound was. His sharp hiss as she neared his shoulder let her know where the pain was coming from, parting his feathers to reveal a deep gash.

A soothing sensation brushed over his injury, soft blue light beginning to emanate from Mipha’s touch. “Why do you refuse to admit you need help?” She questioned, her voice soft as her eyes wandered from his shoulder to his face, his eyebrows furrowing at the question. He gave a meager “tsk” in response, and Mipha frowned. They’d had such a nice day together. Was she prodding too much? Did he not trust her?

“Because I don’t need your help,” He spat out rather harshly, taking Mipha by surprise. He’d apparently taken himself by surprise, too, because he quickly stammered, “I’ve been perfectly fine fending for myself. I don't need anyone,” he quickly added, trying to soften the blow of his words. Mipha’s hand lingered a moment after her healing worked its magic in an attempt to comfort him. She was treading on thin ice; she knew that. She had to choose her words carefully.

She pulled her hand away and rested it in her lap, and paused before speaking, “I believe there is a strength in admitting one needs help.”

Strangely enough, he let out a dry chuckle, much to her confusion. “Oh, princess, you could find the good in Ganon if you really tried.” Mipha let out a confused “huh?” as she studied the Rito’s expression, his eyebrows slightly raised in amusement and his eyes slightly creased at the corners, before he grimaced.

“You’re too kind for your own good, you know that?”

“You’re not the first to tell me that. I am aware,” she responded plainly, unable to read his expression and unsure of where this conversation was going.

He paused before he countered, “You should look out for yourself for a change, princess.”

“And you should learn that asking for help is not the weakness you think it is.”

Her response left him speechless as he opened his beak to retaliate before shutting it once more, a short huff following the otherwise somber atmosphere. The tension was not painted with malice, only curiosity, as two parallel ideas from two different worlds tried to find peace in each other.

“Do forgive me if this is not something you’d wish to talk about, but,” Mipha paused for a moment as Revali looked over at her expectedly, “is there any particular reason for this sentiment?” He inhaled deeply, the question clearly stirring something deep in him.

He clicked his tongue as he began to think of a good response, his eyes looking up to the sky as if the answer would fly past him. “Nothing in this life has been handed to me. Forgive me if that is all I wish to say.”

“I understand,” she murmured sadly. They remained quiet as the sun finally said its goodbyes and the moon arose, the stars in the night sky becoming visible. For some odd reason, Revali felt sorry. He didn’t owe her any explanation as to why he acted the way he did, so why did he feel guilty?

He opted to break the silence. “So uh,” he cleared his throat in an attempt to shake off any awkwardness. “Your brother. He was quite enthusiastic despite having almost been attacked.” He gave a dry chuckle in an attempt to change the mood, and luckily for him, he seemed to have chosen the right topic.

A smile crept its way onto Mipha’s face at the thought of her little brother, “Yes, he’s quite a handful at times, but I love him all the same.”

“I noticed that you knelt down to be at his level when he thanked you; that was kind of you.” She quickly added, and Revali scoffed, a bashful smile tugging at the corner of his beak. Him? Kind? Well, at least his earlier statement about her definitely still stood.

“It was nothing, really.” He exhaled as his proud smile grew a little more. “It’s become a habit for me, I suppose. Dealing with the fledglings at the Flight Range and such…”

“I can only assume the Rito children must look up to you,” she commented, a playful smile on her lips as she looked up at Revali. His cheek feathers prickled slightly at the praise. Sure, it was one thing to have your ego stroked because of your obviously superior skills, but this was different. In their few conversations in which Revali shared small tidbits from his life in Rito Village, Mipha noted he seemed rather bashful when it came to this aspect of his life. She didn’t know much about his village other than some accounts of travelers who described it as quaint and humble, but other than that, she was clueless.

“I…I suppose so,” he admitted. “It’s hard to be stern with them sometimes, but other than that, they’re very fast learners. Very silly, too.”

Mipha giggled at the last comment, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she did. Music to his ears yet again, a laugh so alluring it could rival the twinkle of the stars above. “Well, I do wish to see this Flight Range you speak so fondly of someday.” She added as her laughter died down, leaving a playful smile in its stead.

She wanted to see the Flight Range? It was a simple training ground. Typically tourists steered clear of it, but…she actually wanted to see it? The place he spent most of his time in, the place that was his pride… She wanted to see it? Strange, he thought.

He stayed quiet for a moment too long before speaking up, “I’d be happy to show it to you someday, princess.” A comfortable quiet settled between the two.

Not for long, at least. Ruta stirred abruptly as the side Revali had been sitting on tilted slightly up, gravity pulling him down as he crashed into the Zora Princess. He squawked at the sudden movement, stuttering out some form of an apology for the sudden physical contact as his heart raced. She quickly moved away to allow some space between the two. “I am terribly sorry. Ruta has never behaved like this before…” She let out a nervous laugh before yelping as Ruta quickly tilted the other side, gravity pulling Mipha down to Revali’s side.

Some more apologies ensued as the two got on their feet, deciding that maybe this was Ruta’s way of saying she was tired for the night. The two stumbled to their feet, and another sudden jolt of Ruta’s trunk tripped Mipha as she tried to regain her footing. Revali extended a wing out to her, catching her as she leaned against his chest; he hoped she didn’t notice the pounding of his heart. That would be weird.

Ruta roared as if to laugh at the pair before the sound of water rushing caught their attention. The trunk rumbled as the sound of rushing water got louder before erupting into the air. Revali followed the wave of water as it went up and ultimately resigned himself to the fact that said water was now coming down, right over him. He was soaked, extending his wings to try and shake off as much excess water as he could.

“Revali, I am so, so sorry for Ruta’s behavior.” Mipha apologized profusely as she continued to ramble, anxiously waiting to see the Rito’s reaction.

To her surprise, he laughed.

He was soaked. And he was laughing.

She found it hard to stifle her own laughter for whatever reason; something about his amusement was contagious. She looked over at him, his head tilted back as he held his stomach as he laughed in a manner she had never seen before.

“This whole situation…it's… It's just so absurd!” He managed to get out between laughter, “I sparred with you, you taught me how to swim, we fought a wizzrobe together, I saved your brother, and you brought me up to your divine beast, which just drenched me!”

“Pardon me, I still don’t follow…” Mipha’s confused expression met Revali yet again, her brow slightly furrowed, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. Revali met her confused expression and laughed once more before settling down. “In other words, I enjoyed today, princess.” His tone was uncharacteristically joyous. Mipha almost wondered if this was the same Revali from earlier, the same Revali she had initially met. Regardless, she welcomed it.

“Oh! And you should’ve seen your face just now!” He giggled, his head tilting back slightly as his eyes closed. She’d never seen him laugh this hard, or at all. She didn’t completely understand why he reacted the way he did, but she was content. Their laughter died down eventually, and he shook off whatever excess water remained on his feathers. “I suppose we should turn in for the night, princess.”

Despite all their ups and downs for the day, she was delighted, and he figured he was, too. She wondered if this was a milestone in their relationship. Were they friends? Best friends? Acquaintances? She figured she wouldn’t ask, for now she was satisfied with having shared this confusingly silly moment alongside him.

Unknown to her, Revali was content just being at her side.

Chapter Text

Revali woke early the following morning. As he sat up in bed, he looked around to find that the sun had not yet risen nor the moon yet hidden; it was the perfect time of day. He smiled to himself before lying back down, letting himself relax before the long day he knew he had ahead of him. He prided himself on discipline, both on the battlefield and off it, which included something as minuscule as waking up early. It was something about this specific time that Revali had come to relish, the odd limbo that only he seemed to bask in. While the Rito were certainly early birds to an extent, as typically, village life sprang alive as the sun rose, Revali liked waking up slightly earlier.

The serenity that came along with such silence as the only sound to fill it was the gentle rustle of the wind. It was this short time of day that he found solace in, where he lay in a similar fashion to how he found solace with Medoh in the sky; he would go to Medoh to escape the world, yet here he lay with a similar peace on the ground. It felt like these moments of dawn were for him alone, and he liked that.

Thinking of Medoh, he wondered how exactly that whole calibration thing with Princess Zelda and those Sheikah scientists would go. He began to think of the previous night he had shared with Mipha; the way Ruta seemed to have a mind of its own was hardly a surprise. Medoh herself had quite the playful character, oftentimes greeting Revali with a screech as he flew up to her and the occasional resisting of his directions to continue encircling Rito Village as she insisted on one more lap across the Hebra Mountains before resting for the day. Where did the name “Medoh” even come from, anyway? Maybe he’d ask Zelda whenever it was that she would journey out to Tabantha.

As the sun began to creep out of the horizon, Revali sighed; his time alone with his thoughts was almost up. He sat up in the much too firm bed that he was starting to feel in his back and stretched, twisting his back and torso and pushing his arms up above his head, feeling the stretch throughout his entire being. He ran a wing through his braids, cringing slightly at the feeling of frizz as unkempt braids started to show. He probably looked ridiculous now, he figured.

With a sigh, he made his way out of bed and towards the nearby stone counter, a light breeze blowing as he began to undo the little gem clasps that held his braids in place before setting them on the marble counter. He didn’t have a brush with him, and he doubted that anyone in Zora’s Domain would have one, what with the Zora not having any hair period, though he settled on untangling them with his primaries. Eventually, the leather ribbons that had been woven into his hair untangled, leaving him with four ribbons that he set alongside the gem clasps. Working his primaries through whatever knotting there was in his hair, he wondered. When was Mipha going to come up to meet him? Was she an early bird like him, or did she like to wake up later in the morning? Did village life start as the sun rose like the Rito did? Village life? Domain life? Lots of questions, not enough answers.

A short while after, Mipha finally stood at the entrance to the room and leaned on the frame, deciding whether she should announce herself or simply stay quiet and continue watching from afar. It seemed Revali made that choice for her as he spoke, “You know, princess, it’s rude to stare.” She emitted a small exhale as a nervous smile tugged at her lips, “How did you know I was here without looking?” The Rito finally turned his head to look at her, a smirk on his face as he responded, “I’ll have you know, my sense of hearing is impeccable.” Mipha finally got a good look at him; he looked like a different person with his hair down, she thought. She felt herself staring yet again and quickly averted her gaze to the ground. “Would you prefer for me to go? I can come back later if you’re busy right now…” She asked softly, still lingering at the entrance of the room as Revali returned his gaze to wherever it had been before. “Well, seeing as you're already here,” he began as he continued to detangle whatever was left of his braids, “I wouldn’t hate your company.”

She smiled softly before formally entering the room, opting to sit on the bed in the center of the room just a few feet away from where Revali was standing at the counter. Looking closely, his navy hair was surprisingly long; the way it was tightly braided must have made it appear slightly shorter in length, and went an inch or two below his shoulders. Mipha could tell it wasn’t exactly like Hylian hair but was instead thicker and fuller. The few other Rito she had come across all seemed to wear some kind of braids, though he had yet to see one with the same kind as Revali. Did the braids have meaning, or did Revali just want to be different? Well, if she never asked, how would she know?

Mipha watched as he began parting his hair and working on one section at a time, incorporating a leather ribbon into the braiding, “So, what brings you up here so early, princess?” She perked her head up and tugged at her jewelry slightly, feeling awkward for some reason. She felt like she was intruding; something about seeing Revali in a way she had never felt oddly…intimate? Well, if she had been infringing on his personal space, he would have long made it clear that she was doing so with some witty remark and a very direct order to scram.

She paused for what she assumed was longer than she felt because Revali turned his head to look at her, awaiting her answer as he clipped the little gem clasp at the end of one of his braids. Had she really spaced out that long, or was he just fast at doing his hair? “Oh, well…” she stuttered as his gaze remained on her expectedly, “Seggin, one of our sergeants, reported the events of yesterday to my father. He’s eager to thank you for what you did for Sidon and requested that you meet with him before you leave for Rito Village.” Mipha observed how his eyebrows quirked up for a moment before they returned to their usual position on his still expression and added, “When are you expected back home?”

“I plan to leave around midday, hopefully I can make good time and arrive back home before nightfall.” He finished off his second braid and began parting the other half of his hair into two as a smirk tugged at his beak, “I suppose it was a good idea to redo my braids after all, can’t meet with your father looking a fool.” Your father? Now, that sounded intimate. Hylia, he could’ve just said “the king,” but no, it was like his mouth had a mind of its own.

Mipha didn’t seem to catch the implication however, and just giggled in response before absentmindedly playing with one of her bracelets, “I am curious,” she began and Revali turned his body to face her completely, leaning back on the counter with his wings busy in his hair, “I’ve noticed that most of the Rito I’ve seen have some sort of braids. Is there a meaning behind them?”

Revali let out an amused exhale, his eyes glancing upwards as if lost in thought as he finished off the third braid. “Well, it’s complicated. I don’t want to bore you-”

“You won’t,” she interrupted, and his eyebrows quirked up at the sudden interjection. “You seem to be very passionate whenever it comes to sharing information about your culture. I’d love to hear more about it.”

The Zora tilted her head slightly and smiled, and Revali felt that same pang in his chest he had felt previously. “Well, hair is very important in Rito culture, though not all Rito choose to wear braids. Hairstyles and different accessories can denote what family a Rito is from, their profession, and even important events in their lives.”

Mipha hummed before he continued, “Warriors will braid their hair into two when they come of age, different beads symbolizing victories and rank. Women typically wear looped braids and children wear wooden beads and ribbons as accessories, with ribbons having their family crest woven in.”

It was then that she realized that Revali himself did not wear his hair in two braids like he mentioned warriors did. She recalled how she had once overheard Urbosa and Daruk refer to Zelda, Link, Revali, and herself as young, but it was strange to think that he, too, was barely on the cusp of adulthood like them. Princess Zelda and Link were just teenagers, and Mipha herself was around the same age as them developmentally; it had never occurred to her that Revali was more similar to them than initially thought. To be fair, there was a lot about Revali she still didn't know; she had never heard of him until his appointment as champion. The regions of Tabantha and Hebra being so harsh must have played some part in news from those regions going relatively unknown to the rest of Hyrule, with regions like Central Hyrule, Necluda, and Lanayru being easier to navigate.

He continued his impromptu lesson, and Mipha couldn’t help but find herself staring; this did not go unnoticed to Revali. The way she would give him her full, undivided attention made him feel weird. A good weird, he might add. He was used to being the center of attention by now, hearing people praise his superior skills and otherworldly talents, but for whatever reason, being here with her solely made him feel… different. He decided to shove that thought to the back of his head for now, who knows when he’d unpack whatever was going on internally, but oh well, that was a problem for future Revali.

“So, what’s the meaning behind your specific hairstyle?” She asked, her eyes wide and curious. Revali finished off his fourth braid, clamping it with the final gem clasp before pausing, his beak pressed into a thin line as if hesitant to respond. “Well, since I haven't had my coming of age ceremony, I can’t wear my hair like other warriors… however, these four gem clasps symbolize my four back-to-back archery championships.” He proudly noted, his chest slightly puffed out as he showed off the testaments of his victories.

“Quite impressive, you must certainly be a great archer.” Mipha chimed in, and the praise resulted in Revali’s cheek feathers slightly puffing out, and he raced to find something witty to reply.

“Of course, I am.” He responded in typical Revali fashion.

—

The pair walked along the eastern bridge that connected the surrounding land to Zora’s Domain, with Mipha taking the lead and making idle conversation with the Rito, who lingered a step or two behind her as he tried to take in the scenery. As they walked further into the domain, Revali saw what daily life was like for the inhabitants. Small children ran around the plaza laughing as they chased each other. A group of young women hung around one of the pools beneath the throne room, likely gossiping as one would lean in and whisper to her friends, as they promptly giggled and looked over to a few young men who stood at a ledge with a waterfall as they abruptly backed up. A blue-scaled Zora suddenly appeared and landed in front of his friends as they cheered, another proceeding to dive from that same point.

The domain was lively and bustling with activity; it hadn’t occurred to Revali that such a foreign place could be so similar to his home village. The Rito were historically the most isolated race in the land, and very few Rito traveled out of the village frequently, leaving many unaware of the outside world. So seeing that the rest of Hyrule did, in fact, live plain, ordinary lives was oddly comforting to him. He followed Mipha as they walked down a large set of stairs that led to the base floor of the domain, where the inn and market were located.

“Down here we have Seabed Inn and Marot Mart, which includes the Coral Reef and the Hammerhead,” she began, her pace noticeably accelerating as they passed the stone statue of Mipha and Revali, and he almost let out an amused exhale. Again, what a beautiful sculpture, he thought. What talented artisans the Zora must have; how were they able to capture her likeness so exquisitely? The way the stone seemed to capture the peace and tranquility of her expression and the serenity of her being, even the most minuscule details like the soft curve in her fingers and the slight tilt of her head that was so characteristic of her. Just wonderful…the attention to detail, of course. The way the sculpture even made her champion’s sash look soft despite it being stone, now that was impressive. Totally. Not everything else that just ran through his head.

Yeah, maybe they should move it, for both him and Mipha’s sake. Mostly Mipha’s. Definitely.

As they approached the inn, a young woman greeted Mipha excitedly. “Lady Mipha!” She stepped out from behind the counter and embraced Mipha, giving her a little air kiss as they touched cheeks. As they separated, she stepped to the side and saw the figure standing behind Mipha (not like Mipha was hiding him very well to begin with).

“About time you brought someone other than Linny to the domain!” She stepped forward to stand at Mipha’s side and gave her a small jab in the side with her elbow, “Soooo, who’s this?”

At being mentioned, Revali straightened his posture and puffed his chest out slightly, trying his best to act normal and nonchalant despite feeling totally out of place, also being partially thrown off by “Linny.” Seriously, he knew the people of Central Hyrule and Necluda loved the stupid little Hylian knight, but even the Zora? Ugh, whatever. “Kodah, this is Revali, Champion of the Rito.” She beckoned Revali to step closer, “Revali, this is my dear friend Kodah.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Champion.” She smiled and bowed her head, and Revali did the same, “Pleasure to meet you, as well.”

“So Mipha, where have you been hiding him? Because I certainly haven’t seen him in the inn.” Kodah teased as she turned to face Revali, “I can’t imagine the communal sleeping pools would be comfortable for a Rito.”

Revali let out an amused exhale. “Certainly not. I’ve been staying in a room by the reservoir.”

Kodah feigned a dramatic gasp as she turned to face Mipha, whose expression hadn’t changed from her giddy smile, seemingly used to her friend’s exaggerations, “You made the poor thing sleep on that stiff bed all alone that far from the domain?” Revali quickly interjected, “No, I assure you it was-”

“Come here now,” Kodah tugged him by the wing, and Revali shot Mipha a confused look to which Mipha simply shrugged her shoulders and giggled, “Allow me to introduce you to our blissful water bed!” Aside from the normal, firm beds closer to the entrance of the inn, there was one further towards the back that seemed normal at first glance, but at a touch, it moved like water. “Go on, sit!” Kodah urged, practically pushing him down to sit on the waterbed.

Revali patted the bedding on either side of him, watching as the bed rippled at the movement. A gentle push at his shoulder enticed him to fully lie down, the bed wobbling with his every movement. Revali let out a sigh of relief as he felt his back decompress, a much-welcome feeling compared to the stiffness that the regular bed had inflicted (not that he would voice the complaint out loud, though, it would crush Mipha.) “Soo, what do you think?”

“Surprisingly comfortable. Very different from my hammock back home,” he noted, sitting up and poking the mattress with a single feathered appendage, his eyes fixed on watching the ripples.

“Hammock?” Mipha’s eyes widened slightly as she tilted her head at the realization, and Kodah seemed to have caught this as she laughed, “Oh my, it never occurred to me that the Rito might sleep in different beds. I apologize for not being as accommodating as I could have been…”

“Seriously, I really didn’t mind-”

He was cut off abruptly once again, “Poor thing!” And Revali fought back the urge to roll his eyes; he was not a “poor thing.” Kodah chimed in yet again, “Next time, you should consider the Seabed Inn!”

Revali sighed, feigning interest, “And how much might a night here on this bed run me?”

“Well, the water bed is in high demand, and seeing as there’s a limited quantity, it could run you a bit. But for you, my friend, 80 rupees a night!”

“Kodah, that IS the price for a night-”

“SHH!”

Revali couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

—

“Good morning, Lady Mipha,” the clerk behind the counter at the Coral Reef greeted, “and Rito Champion. Looking for anything in particular?”

“Just looking, thank you,” Mipha replied, or at least that's what Revali assumed she said, a bundle of arrows on display having caught his attention instead. Walking over to the display, Mipha followed.

“Ice arrows, eh?” Revali tilted his head as he examined the bundle.

“Indeed. Hand-made by our blacksmith, Dento,” she subtly flicked her eyes towards an older Zora who was sitting at a workbench, hunched over a trident that looked identical to the one Mipha currently carried on her back. Revali’s eyes squinted slightly, “Isn’t that your trident over there…? Or am I seeing things?”

Mipha let out a small chuckle in response, “It’s a replica, much weaker than the one on my back. I admit it has seen better days. I think I was a little too rough with it last time I practiced with it for the upcoming ceremony…” She lamented as she brought a hand up to the back of her neck, obviously a little embarrassed.

“A little?” Revali teased, his eyes coming back to focus on the Zora that stood in front of him, “Princess, it’s broken in half! I can see that even from over here.” He chuckled, the corners of his eyes creasing, and a wing flew to his beak in an attempt to stifle his laughter. “A little,” he playfully mocked as he attempted to keep his beak shut.

“Enough!” Mipha joked as she gave Revali a playful smack on the shoulder, and the two giggled like some teenage troublemakers as they went back and forth, poking fun at each other. “Anyway, what do you think of them?”

Revali carefully picked up a bundle of ice arrows, “Well, I don’t think they’d be particularly useful back home since most monsters are ice-based, but they're neat.” A smile tugged at the corner of his beak slightly, “Though, there's no harm in variety, I suppose.”

He walked over to the counter, with Mipha following. “How much a bundle, sir?” Revali asked as he placed the bundle on the counter in front of the clerk, as he began to reach for his wallet. “That’ll be 80 rupees.”

A small hand at his wing stopped him from fishing around his wallet for the rupees. “Would you be so kind as to put it on my tab?”

The speed at which Revali’s head whipped to face her was almost comical. “Princess, you really don't have to…”

Her head turned to face him, “I insist.” And how could Revali refuse her when she flashed that smile he had begun to adore? Not adore, that wasn’t the right word. Just noticed. Yeah…that smile he had begun to notice…? Whatever, that smile he didn’t hate.

“Of course, Lady Mipha.” The clerk smiled, and a tug at his wing yet again led the pair out of the store and back in the open. He slipped the arrows into his quiver and walked alongside her, “You know, princess, I can’t stand owing someone.”

“Think of it as a gift. And besides, I’m sure one day you’ll repay me.” The two walked back up the stairs to the plaza. Revali could only assume their next stop was the throne room. “What could I possibly have that you would want?” He asked, his head slightly tilted as he looked at her, awaiting her response.

“You repaying me doesn’t have to be materialistic,” she responded and paused, as if choosing how to articulate her next words. “I was being serious when I said I’d like to see the Flight Range you speak so fondly of.”

“You want a trip to Rito Village? In exchange for a bundle of ice arrows?” Revali let out an amused exhale, “I can’t tell whether that’s a fair trade or not.” Mipha giggled as she finally looked up at him, her amber eyes lit up as she joked, “I think it’s quite fair.”

Another odd twinge in his heart and an unconscious tug at the corner of his beak, her laughter was beautiful. “I suppose we could make that happen then.”

—

They stood at the arch of the entrance to the throne room, King Dorephan listening intently to another Zora who Revali assumed was Seggin based on the various medals adorning his armor, as well as the spear he held, which was different from the ones wielded by the common soldier. Instead, the spear had two prongs, forming a crescent shape. Seggin stood before the larger king, spear firmly planted into the ground as they discussed something about the Zora army, or at least that’s what Revali could vaguely make out.

Mipha took a step forward, the sound of her jewelry alerting them of her presence as their chatter died out, and the King’s serious expression was replaced by one of joy. “We will continue this discussion later, Seggin. You are dismissed.” The sergeant bowed and began to walk out of the throne room, greeting the princess and champion on his way out.

“My daughter,” the king began as Mipha walked toward the center platform of the room and turned her head, gesturing for Revali to follow. He awkwardly ensued, unsure whether or not to stand at Mipha’s side. “And Champion Revali, I do hope you’ve enjoyed your stay in our domain.”

“Of course, your majesty.”

Mipha felt a smile forming at the corner of her lips at hearing Revali’s sincere tone, one that was a little uncharacteristic of him.

“I wanted to thank you personally before your departure. On behalf of Zora’s Domain, we thank you for aiding us in protecting our home.” The king paused as his expression changed slightly, a grateful look in his eye mixed with a sort of sadness at the idea of what could have happened had Revali not been there, “And on my behalf, I thank you for saving my boy.”

The recounting of the events by Seggin had struck the king. It had not been the first time that Sidon had been caught in a situation like this; King Dorephan figured that the scares this kid gave him would be the end of him one day. He recalled the first time Princess Zelda and her party had come to the domain to request that Mipha pilot Vah Ruta. The domain was under attack, and the young prince defied orders and ran out to fight a lynel threatening the domain. Thank Hylia above that Link and Mipha found him before he was hurt. Of course, he had given Sidon a stern scolding about how reckless his behavior was, but he couldn't stay mad for long. It was Sidon’s fearlessness and at times stubborn behavior that reminded Dorephan of himself. Sidon had always taken after his father, with Mipha embodying the late queen’s gentle nature. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing either one of his children.

“Zora’s Domain will always welcome you with open arms, Champion Revali.”

Revali wasn’t sure what to say; the formality of meeting and speaking to royalty usually left his otherwise confident words unsure. It was something he never got used to, no matter how many times he had to meet with King Rhoam or other Hyrulean nobility, Zelda excluded. “I’m honored, your majesty,” is all he could manage out, hoping his honest sincerity was not lost in his minimal wording. King Dorephan simply smiled in response, “I do not wish to keep you late. Mipha, please escort him when he departs.”

“Yes, father.” She nodded, and the two were dismissed, making their way to the Great Zora Bridge that served as the grand entrance to the domain.

—

“I still can’t believe you didn’t speak up over the sleeping arrangement,” Mipha lightheartedly commented as the two began to walk the length of the bridge. Truthfully, Revali could have taken off anywhere in the domain, but walking the bridge meant more time with the Zora. “I assure you, it was fine. I didn’t want to complain after you were so kind as to host me.”

“Well, now I know for next time.” She added, and Revali’s eyebrows quirked up. “So, there will be a next time?” He chimed in, a smirk on his face.

Mipha opened her mouth to reply, but the pitter-patter of small footsteps growing nearer grabbed both of their attention. They turned to find the culprit, the young Zora Prince, who had chased after them.

“Hi Mi! Hi Mister Revali!” The young boy jumped up and down, a simple meeting with his dear sister seemingly being the most exciting thing in the world. Mipha knelt and gave him a little pat on the head, the boy flashing his little smile.

“Are you leaving already, mister?” Sidon asked, his lips in a pout as he looked up at the Rito. “I’m afraid so, Sidon.” Revali sighed, his head tilted as if his departure saddened him, too. And partially, it did.

“He has to go, Sidon. He has to go practice his skills just like you do.” Revali chimed in with a “mhm” as Mipha explained to him, an “oh” escaping the boy’s mouth as he understood. The two continued to walk with Sidon trailing close by, chiming in occasionally as he ran about.

As they neared the end of the bridge, where a grass path followed, Sidon darted into a nearby bush. The prince emerged with his hands cupped together, “Look!” He stood between his sister and Revali as he opened his hands, revealing a beetle he caught.

Now, Revali was a warrior, don’t get him wrong. He prided himself on being strong; he’d seen many things on the battlefield that would shock the average person. He was scared of nothing and no one, not even death itself.

This fearlessness, unfortunately, did not account for insects.

But he wasn’t gonna make a fool out of himself, even as that horrid beetle in the boy’s hands crawled around. Revali squirmed and took a step back, hoping to keep his distance and avoid being remotely near the beetle at all costs. Mipha leaned in, sharing Sidon’s fascination with the insect as he proudly showed it off.

Abruptly, the prince leapt forward towards Revali, “Look what I caught!” He exclaimed eagerly, and Revali took another step back, letting out a squawk as he did. “Yes, Sidon, I can see- I can see it fine from here!” He tried to mask the panic in his voice as the boy took another step forward.

Mipha, who stood behind the prince, watched the entire thing play out, letting out a giggle as she noticed Revali’s panic. She could sit back and watch as Sidon pressed forward in an attempt to get Revali to really see the beetle up close, or she could step in and end the poor Rito’s suffering.

A gentle hand on Sidon’s shoulder prompted him to turn over his shoulder, “I think we should let our little friend go back home now.” And Revali almost scoffed before realizing she was, in fact, talking about the beetle and not him. Sidon darted back to the same bush he had found the bug in and released it. With the prince now out of earshot, Mipha stood by Revali’s side and leaned in. “I wasn’t aware that the great Revali was scared of a little bug.” He could practically hear the smirk on her face.

“You will speak of this to no one,” he muttered.

“Of course not.”

Finally, they began to wrap up whatever conversation was left as the prince came back. They said their goodbyes, and Mipha stepped back, holding Sidon with two hands on his shoulders, as Revali knelt with his wings planted on the ground on their side of him. A gust of wind was summoned at his feet, his scarf turning wildly with the current as well as his braids. Just as he prepared to take off, the sound of the prince calling out to him kept him grounded, his gale dying down.

Sidon ran and picked up a stray feather that had been discarded by the wind, “Mister, you dropped this!” He held out the navy feather for Revali, who let out a chuckle in return.

“Thank you, Sidon. But I have enough feathers as it is.” Revali took the feather. “However, I see you seem to be missing one,” he gestured to Sidon’s headpiece that now lacked a feather, likely having been lost during the chaos of the previous night. The prince brought up one of his hands and touched the top of his head, finding that the usual feather was in fact gone, and frowned.

Revali placed the feather where the previous one had been, securing it in place and leaning back. Sidon smiled, and Mipha found herself smiling along with him. For someone who was cold and reserved on the outside, seeing Revali’s much softer nature made her smile. Anyone who was kind to Sidon was all good in her books. “Now then, what do we say, Sidon?”

“Thank you, Mister Revali!”

And soon, after some final goodbyes, Revali’s gale was summoned yet again, and he was off. Sidon was amazed by his flying, watching him in the distance even after he took off. “Come along, Sidon, let’s go practice your swimming.” His sister urged him along, his eyes still fixed on Revali, who soon became a small spot in the sky, lost on the horizon.

—

The sun hung low in the sky when Revali finally arrived at Rito Village, landing on one of the larger platforms the village had. He made his way to the top of the village where the elder resided. “Guess who singlehandedly just improved relations with the Zora.” He smirked as he stood at the doorway of the hut, and the elder let out a hoot and chuckled. “Well, well. I thought you weren’t much of a people person, Revali.” Revali recounted the events of his travels, making sure to exclude the whole learning to swim and bug incident, of course.

“Sounds like you had fun. I’m glad you’re getting along with the Zora Champion, too.” Elder Tenali noted, and Revali fumbled a bit, “Yeah, I suppose.”

Revali excused himself and began to walk out of the hut, making it to the doorframe before Elder Tenali added, “Princess Zelda and some Sheikah scientists are coming next week to calibrate Vah Medoh, don’t forget. Be on your best behavior, young man.”

“Uh-huh,‘ Revali groaned as he walked out, leaving Tenali in his rocking chair.

With his own children having left the nest and started their own families, Tenali had missed being a father. So when news of a small, fledgling being left orphaned made its way to him years ago, he took to raising Revali. As much as he had missed being a father, he certainly did not miss this teenage attitude. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.