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Chapter Text

Calm winds breezed over the village of Hateno, giving the pond in front of Link slight ripples across its smooth surface. He let out a content sigh as he flopped onto his back. Above him in the sky, a couple of doves flew around each other, chirping a cheery tune. The flowers that populated his backyard were in full bloom and gave off the soft, sweet aroma of their nectar.

And just a few feet from the pond was a makeshift stable crafted by his father. In it lived his beloved horse, Epona, who he has known since he was a kid. The poor mare was beginning to show signs of age but she didn't let that keep her from accompanying Link when he had to go to work.

For Link, it's been this peaceful for a while. The last time peace was distributed was years ago. What happened then disabled his father forever, but he's glad he found another purpose as a local part-time blacksmith. Link thought it was much safer than being a knight at his current age, and he was happier that his father could be home more for his younger sister, Aryll, and him.

Unfortunately, this led his father into thinking that his son should follow in his footsteps and taught him to be a knight, just like his ancestors before him were. That's how Link came to be Princess Zelda's appointed knight. King Rhoam was impressed by his swordsmanship and chivalry and believed that he would be best suited to protect his daughter when needed.

If Link could have it his way, he would want to be a stable owner, or maybe a simple farmhand. He thought he had a pretty strong bond with all the horses he's met so far. Speaking of horses...

He stood up from the soft grass and gave his back a good stretch before moseying over to Epona. Her ears perked up at the familiar sound of feet rustling grass and she let out a happy snort as Link's hand gave her a nice pat on the nose.

"How's she doin', Link?"

The deep, throaty voice of his father made Link look over to the shed where he emerged.

"She's doing great, father," He smiled, bringing his gaze back to his horse.

"I'm glad," His father sighed as he approached the two. "Y'know, since you were a little munchkin, you and Epona have always got along well."

Link nodded in agreement and looked up into Epona's deep brown eyes. Their bond required no words or sounds to understand one another. Anyone who saw their interactions knew this. These two were inseparable when duty called or adventure awaited.

Link's father sighed beside him, breaking the comfortable silence between the three. "Well, son, you know I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe you were called in by the princess yourself." He waved a letter that was encased in the signature Royal Family envelope, sealed by Zelda's very own stamp.

Link tried his best to conceal his disappointment but his body language gave away everything. His ears were tilted downward while a frown took over his lips. Even Epona started to adopt his ways and had her ears pinned back with an agitated snort. Without much of a word to his father, Link headed inside the house to get ready.

"I'll get Epona all saddled up for you!" His father called just as his son disappeared inside, then he looked toward the horse. "Sorry, old girl..."

Inside the house, Link trudged up the small set of stairs leading to his room. It wasn't exactly a room since it overlooked the living space below where the family ate or hung out, and it had no door. His sister slept below the stairs in the storage area while his father sacrificed his comfort by using the shed as his bedroom. They had no storage, so they used the living space to store all his father's prized possessions from his time as a royal knight and anything else that had sentimental value. Link knew their living situation wasn't ideal, but what else could they do with such little space?

"Link! Link! Are you going out?" The shrill voice of his little sister made him turn. She stood at the base of the stairs with her head slightly tilted and her hands behind her back.

"Unfortunately," He smiled at her. "But I'll try to be back in time to take you fishing. How does that sound?"

"Amazing!! I can't wait! Please try to hurry," She begged, giving him her best pouty face.

"I'll try," Link said and gave her his best wink before going over to his dresser.

His usual attire consisted of a light blue tunic worn on top of a lightweight white long sleeve, tan Hylian trousers, and his favorite pair of riding boots. For some light protection, he would wear gauntlets that his father handcrafted for him and some brown fingerless gloves. Once everything was on, he would grab his sword, bow, quiver, and shield that he often kept in a corner near his dresser. After that, he grabbed a small hair tie to pull back some of his hair into a tiny ponytail and keep it from getting in his face (also to keep enemies from yanking his hair in battle).

When he felt prepared enough, Link made his way down the stairs and was hugged by a very impatient little girl. He chuckled. "It's not like I'm leaving for war, Aryll, I'll be back soon."

"I know, I know, but there are so many monsters on the way to the castle, you HAVE to be careful!" She whined.

Link pulled her off of him and he knelt down to her eye level. "Well, I'll just tell them all off and then if they don't leave, I'll scare them off with my big, scary sword," He said with a mischievous smile. This made Aryll giggle.

"Okie dokie, big brother! Oh, and could you give the princess this? I made it myself..." She held out a beaded necklace with the Royal Family's crest. "Father helped me with the crest but I did all the beadwork."

Link looked down upon it and smiled softly. The crest was made entirely out of wood, but it was light and it didn't splinter. The beads consisted of three colors: light blue, pearly white, and soft gold. "I'll give it to her," He said and looked up into his sister's gleeful eyes.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" She squealed with delight.

Link stood up just as his father entered the house. He approached the two and handed Link the letter. "Why don't you go ahead and read that, son?"

He took the fancy envelope into his hands and carefully peeled the stamp off. Inside was Zelda's handwritten letter addressed specifically to him. He could tell it was her handwriting because of her intricate, soft cursive letters. His eyes skimmed over it. He wasn't much of a reader, he'd rather get the gist of the writing and then go off from there.

"So...what is it?" His father asked.

Link felt his heart drop as he read over the last bit of the letter. He couldn't explain all of this to his father. The last thing he needs is his father to worry. He shook off the nerves inside and looked up at his father, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's nothing, Father, just my regular knightly duties. You know how it is."

His father chuckled. "I sure do, son, and I also know that if you don't get a-movin', you're in for a rude awakening."

Link rolled his eyes slightly with a smile and headed for the door, patting Aryll on the head as he passed by. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be back tonight, love you, guys!"

As usual, Epona was hitched at the tree, ready to go. Link approached her and hauled himself up onto her back. He gathered her reins into his hands, pausing a second to look over his shoulder. It'll all be alright, Zelda's confident in us..., he thought. If she was confident though, then why did he feel uneasy?

During the whole ride to the castle, Link still felt that unsettling sensation within him. There's no way the ancient evil could wake up again, right? It has been thousands of years since the last awakening, but this just feels too soon. He sighed. Maybe he's just lazy, but he really doesn't feel like fighting some powerful evil force right now. To him, things seem perfect. Hyrule is at peace. There may be some monsters here and there, but they're relatively harmless! Travelers know what to do when a gang of Bokoblins or Moblins comes to mess with them. If something like Ganon were to disturb the peace, however, would travelers know what to do then?

"Ugh..." He groaned, letting go of the reins to run his hands up his face and through his hair. He looked up to the skies to see a pair of Rito messing around. They looked happy, and that upset him. Gods! Is there not a way to avoid Ganon? Perhaps a prayer could make that possible...

Link closed his eyes and let in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. This brought peace to him for now, but for how long will that last? He tightened his grip on the reins as newfound determination rushed through him. He will find a way to seal Ganon away. He has to; for his father, his sister, his friends...everyone.

"Hyah, girl," Link said with a click of his tongue, encouraging Epona to hurry.

The Hyrule Castle lay just a few more miles ahead. It was a very majestic building, made by only the finest Hylian construction crew. It has been renovated over the centuries, but it's mostly kept its historical architecture. On the outside of the castle, a strong line of Guardians and a sturdy stone wall act as an impenetrable barricade. To add even more security, two Guardians and a few soldiers guard the front and back gates. As the princess's anointed knight, Link gained easy access through both gates.

Past the front gates, rows and rows of houses and shops surrounded the moat and the castle. This bustling area was well-known as the Hylian marketplace. Vendors from all over came to sell handcrafted goods such as food, clothes, and weapons. Sometimes, Link would stop by a few shops to purchase something for Aryll or Epona. If a weapon caught his eye, however, he would put all his rupees on the table for it.

For anyone on horseback, the marketplace was very hard to navigate through so Link often traveled early so he could beat the rush. Unfortunately, early wasn't early enough today. The Hylian marketplace was buzzing with life and it felt like, for once, this place was too small for the number of people inside. Every few seconds, Link would have to tug on the reins because people thought it was smart to jump in front of a moving horse. He let out an annoyed sigh, slightly flipping his hair out of his face. There wasn't anything special going on today. No festivals or holidays. So why was it so busy?

After several minutes of stopping and moving, Link finally made it up to the gate that closed off the bridge to the castle. The guards blocking the way scrutinized Link for a moment before letting him pass.

"It should be smooth sailing from here on out, girl," Link said under his breath to Epona. She replied with a relieved snort.

The soldier's grounds is where Link usually dropped off Epona since he couldn't ride her any further after the bridge. One of the stablehands would come over and lead her off to the stables where she would be pampered and cooled down. Link looked up towards the castle and sighed. Now he just had to walk a million staircases. That's always fun.

The walk up to the castle was nowhere near as interesting as the marketplace. There were no vendors allowed past the bridge so it was only a few of the rich civilians and the soldiers who lived up here. People who worked for the royal family also lived here. Link was the only exception because he requested to live outside of the castle. Living this kind of pampered life wasn't for him. He preferred the simple life in his village.

Link paused shortly before the castle doors. The uneasiness from earlier that morning came creeping up again. He knows it's silly to think of, but he hopes Zelda has other news that will comfort him, like how a village dog gave birth to a litter of puppies or something.

Drawing in a breath, Link let himself into the castle, fearing for the worst.

Chapter Text

"Oh, there you are, Link!"

Zelda's voice filled the room as Link entered. She ran up to greet him formally and then took his hand to lead him towards the others.

"Don't you know better than to keep a lady waiting?" The familiar voice of the Gerudo champion, Urbosa, sounded from the left of Link. He looked towards her and smiled bashfully.

"I do, but I wasn't aware that I needed to be here before you all by a certain time," He replied.

Soon after speaking, he caught the gaze of Revali, and that set him on edge. Goddess Hylia, please help him! He isn't in the mood for a stuffy bird today. Without a word to the Rito, he shifted his gaze into Mipha and Daruk, greeting them with a pleasant smile.

"I hope you fared well on your ride here, Link," Mipha said to him, her expression calm. She had her hands clasped in a formal way in front of her. She was always the most respectful out of all the champions.

"Now, Princess, I believe we've kept him in suspicion for far too long," Urbosa spoke.

"Oh, right..." Zelda murmured. Her once joyful expression turned dark as she faced one of the many windows that lit up the room they stood in. "Link, I am terribly sorry to drag you all the way out here for bad news, but I'm afraid it must be addressed," She paused to let out a sigh. "A strange man named Astor recently stopped by and told my father about his predictions of Ganon soon rising up to take over Hyrule again."

As Zelda spoke, the atmosphere of the room shifted. Most of the champions looked uneasy, glancing towards one another with worry. Revali, ever the confident one, only looked out one of the windows, an unreadable look in his striking green eyes. Beside him, Mipha was the most worried one. She was the first to speak.

"No matter what, Princess, we'll have your back through this," She said. Though she tried to mask her uneasiness, her voice slightly wavered. "The Champions were created for this very reason. The goddess Hylia did not bless us just to give us special abilities. We were blessed to defeat the inevitable that is Ganon."

"I know, Mipha, but I cannot help but worry about Hyrule," Zelda replied. She then turned towards the group, her eyes knit together. "You all weren't there when this...this man told us his predictions. It was terrifying what he said— He spoke of our land being absolutely destroyed by our very own creations, the Guardians. He said they will turn their backs on us and see us as the enemy. Ganon will take over control of everything ancient, including your divine beasts."

Daruk's face grew grim as Zelda continued on about Astor's predictions. "So what will become of our kingdoms that the beasts watch over?" He asked.

Zelda met his gaze and frowned. "I cannot tell you exactly what will happen to them, but...I fear that it won't be good. I can only hope all of your people are strong enough and prepared enough to face what your beasts are capable of."

A sigh could be heard from across the room. Revali now had the group's attention. "I don't mean to interrupt, Princess, but you know that these predictions you speak of are just some old geezer's ramblings. What if they're not even true? We'll just be preparing for nothing!"

"I understand where you're coming from, Revali, but I'd rather not risk that chance. Would you?" Zelda said with a slight challenge in her voice. Revali only scoffed at her.

"She's right," Mipha piped up. "I think it'd be wise to prepare for something as dangerous as Ganon than not be prepared in the first place. Could you imagine how risky that would be?" The Zora princess turned toward the Rito with a questionable look on her face.

Revali became flustered at Mipha's gaze and turned away from the group with a hmph. "Well, fine, we'll have it your way, and if we're preparing for a big prank, don't come whining to me."

Link rolled his eyes. We won't have to run to you anyway, you stuffed bird, he thought.

"Right, well, Princess, what do you propose we do now?" Urbosa asked. She was obviously switching the subject to lessen the tension in the room.

"I think I have an idea, but I need a day or two to think it over," Zelda replied. "In the meantime, keep this conversation between us. I don't want the people of Hyrule to become worried."

"Will do, Princess," Daruk said with a reassuring smile. Shortly after he spoke, Urbosa and Mipha both gave a curt nod to the princess.

"Revali? Link?" Zelda called out to them. "Will you do your part as well?"

Link nodded to her just as Revali sighed. He was rather obnoxious about it. "Oh, Princess, you don't have to worry about me keeping quiet," He said, now turning to face the group again. "I will, however, increase training for the Rito Warriors."

"Thank y—"

"Ah— I'm not doing it for you. It's so that I won't have to shed a feather stressing about if my people will be able to survive being in Ganon's clutches if something were to go wrong."

Link frowned. Is it always him before anyone else? He looked toward Zelda for any sort of negative reaction, but she remained cool and collected. She always knew how to keep composure.

"Very well. Just...don't tell them Ganon is the reason why," Zelda nodded, and then she glanced around the room. "You all may leave."

Urbosa and Daruk were the first to leave the quarters, then Revali (with a flourish). Mipha and Link stayed behind.

Zelda was looking back outside her window again. She wore a look of fear and worry mixed into one expression. "Link? Be honest...Do you think Astor would lie to my father and me?" She asked, her voice sounding frail.

As he approached her, Link placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "No, I don't think he would," He replied. "I mean, why come all this way just to tell a lie to the royal family? Especially one about a real imminent danger?"

"Well, if I'm to be honest with you, I was hoping he would be telling lies," Zelda frowned and her hands became clasped together as if she were anxious about something. "It wouldn't be great having to put so much towards preparations but at least things would stay the way they are: peaceful." Tears began to form in her eyes.

"Oh, Zelda...it'll be alright," Mipha stepped in, taking Zelda's hands into hers. "If anything, Ganon should be the one to regret waking from his slumber! He has no idea how much Hyrule has changed since the last few centuries, how much stronger we've become. The last thing on your mind should be our failure."

Zelda sniffled and looked up to meet the Zora's piercing yellow eyes. For a moment, the princess looked like she would break down again, but instead, she smiled. "Mipha, sweet Mipha, you always know what to say, don't you?" She chuckled softly and wiped the stray tears from her eyes. "Alright, I suppose I'll keep that positive thought in my mind. Now shoo! Don't you have a little brother to watch after? Tell the prince hello for me."

Mipha giggled to herself as she padded off to the door. She had a confident air about her. It must be nice for a usually shy person like her to be so outspoken and encouraging like that. Link smiled to himself as he watched her go. He admired her...

"Before you go, Link, would you mind accompanying me for a ride in the fields?" Zelda asked, smoothing out her pants.

"Of course, Princess," Link said with a dip of his head, then he held out his arm for her only for Zelda to nudge it away. Right. How could he forget Zelda was her own woman who can walk just fine without him being chivalrous? He gave himself a little smile as he followed behind her.

Out in the fields, Zelda was holding onto her horse's reins in one hand while the other was clutching a Sheikah slate. From what Link could recall, she only took it out to take pictures of nature, usually rare things that caught her eye.

Link wanted to bring up the whole topic of Ganon but he was afraid of striking a nerve or causing another meltdown. There were so many battle strategies he could talk about but maybe he should save that for Daruk or Urbosa if he happens to find himself in their villages.

"What's on your mind?" Zelda's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade.

Link shifted his gaze over to the Princess. She always knew what to ask at the right times. He let out a breath, "I...I was wondering what you wanted to do about Ganon."

"Don't worry about that, Link," Zelda smiled thinly. "Hyrule is more than ready to take on that ancient evil. We have four skilled warriors, and...us."

She didn't need to say more than that. Link knew that he and Zelda were meant to kill Ganon even if it cost their lives. Zelda had the goddess's protection and power while he, the trusted knight, used the Master Sword to seal away Ganon.

"I think we'll be fine," Zelda continued. "It's just...nerve-wracking, you know?" She sighed and put away her Sheikah Slate. Link only nodded solemnly in response.

They rode on for a few moments in silence. Link had no idea how to cheer the Princess up, or himself for that matter. He glanced up towards the sky and realized he had to get back home in time to take his sister fishing. Wait!

"Zelda, I've got to be headed home now," Link said, breaking their tense silence. "Aryll wants to go fishing, but I was thinking maybe you could join us? I mean, considering how close the two—"

"Oh, I would love to, Link!" Zelda cried, and for a fleeting moment, Link noticed she had a genuine cheerful smile on her face. The first one today...

Back in Hateno, when Zelda would visit (or any of the royal family members), the villagers treated them with respect but they didn't drown them in too much hospitality. The villagers gave them the space they needed, so when Zelda rode into town with Link, the passing folk either bowed or waved to the Princess and nothing else. Link could tell Zelda enjoyed her time in his village because she didn't feel like she was of higher status with the townspeople, and that was a nice change for her.

When they reached his father's house, Aryll was the first to rush out. She nearly tripped on her way over to greet the princess, but then she dusted herself off. "Zelda!" She cried gleefully. "It's been too long!"

"Oh, it's been way too long, little Aryll," Zelda laughed and she got onto her knees to hug Aryll tight. "Link has invited me to fish with you. He tells me you've been dying to see me again. Oh! And how could I forget? I love that beautiful necklace you made me."

Aryll squealed with delight as if she couldn't believe her biggest idol was wearing what she made for her.

At the front door entrance, Link's father peeked over with interest. "Is that the princess I hear?" He called as he emerged into view. He held two small fishing poles in his hands.

Zelda looked up to meet his eyes, and she instantly curtsied before him. "Why yes, indeed!" She chirped. "Link has been a wonderful caretaker today. He has even invited me to fish with him!"

"Oh ho! A caretaker, eh?" Link's father let out a bellied laugh. Link could only hang his head from embarrassment. "Well, unfortunately, Princess, I only have two poles, so I'm afraid I am shorthanded here."

"No worries, sir," Zelda smiled cheekily, flashing a wink towards Link. "He can observe two masters at work."

His father appeared to be very amused as he gave Aryll and Zelda the fishing poles. As the two bounded off towards the pond, Link's father gave him a rough pat on the back. "Sometimes I feel like the Princess is the one protecting you, son," He said jokingly.

"W-Well, you're wrong there, I do plenty of protecting," Link stuttered and crossed his arms with a light hmph!

A brief moment of silence passed between the two. Link felt comfortable standing here with his father, watching his sister bond with Zelda. It was a good moment until Link became reminded of Hyrule's inevitable fate with Ganon soon. He slowly let out a breath and glanced towards the view of the castle.

"I can tell something is on your mind, Link," His father's voice squeezed its way into his inner thoughts.

Link furrowed his brows together, conflicted. He couldn't tell his father. He and the rest of the champions swore to keep Ganon's awakening a secret to others.

"I'm just a little troubled..." Link murmured. "A large group of Bokoblins and Moblins have been raiding towns lately, and I don't want to be in Hyrule if they strike here."

Beside him, his father hummed thoughtfully, and Link was afraid he'd catch his lie. "I understand," He said. "But your sister and I will be safe. You already know of my time with the knights."

Link nodded solemnly. At least what he had told his father was a half-truth. He truly was worried for his family. He's already lost his mother to war. What is the chance his father and his sister survive another war? Let alone, a war with an ancient evil?

Chapter Text

The sun has rounded the world for a while now. Revali counted it as approximately 5 rounds. The giant star is all he can watch with Medoh after he heard Zelda's announcement. The Rito did keep his promise: he didn't tell a soul. If he needed someone to cry his worries out to, he had Medoh, though the ancient beast had no words to say back. Revali calmly watched as the sun neared its 6th rotation. A light breeze ruffled his dark indigo feathers and with it, it carried his sigh.

"This is beginning to grow tiresome, Medoh," He groaned. "I suspect this Astor fellow was simply squawking lies. What do you think?"

Below him, the Divine Beast hummed. The machinery inside of it churned ever so slowly as it drifted above the skies. In the sunset, its large shadow loomed over the Rito Village below. Revali hasn't been down there since the meeting with Zelda. He does miss interacting with the little Warrior hopefuls and training with the others at the Flight Range. Most importantly, he wonders how young Teba is holding up. He felt that little bird had such great potential to be nearly as good as him. Nearly.

Revali now took his gaze off the village and turned to look at the other divine beasts. He noticed the weather was beginning to grow heavier, which was nothing unusual. Sometimes it would rain down in Ludfo's Bog. Despite this slight visual drawback, Revali could still see Death Mountain's outline. He assumed Daruk was faring well, as he always does. The Gorons were built resilient for a reason. Beside Death Mountain was the Zora Domain. Revali took some extra time to observe that area. Although not physically tough as the Gorons, the Zora race are resourceful and quick on their feet. Revali does worry about how they will handle the coming of Ganon yet if that race has survived multiple historic wars for this long, maybe he has nothing to stress about.

Even while knowing the Zora will make it out alright, the Rito was still worried about the well-being of his fellow champion, Mipha. He fears that while on the battlefield, some corrupted creature will catch the Zora Princess at her weakest and end her life. Everyone has their weaknesses, including him, as much as he hates to admit it.

To distract himself from the stress, Revali shifted his gaze onto the desert community of the Gerudo. He felt just as confident in Urbosa as he did in Daruk. Those two races will most likely come out of this war nearly unscathed. And as proud as Revali may be of his kind, he's concerned some Rito Warriors may not make it out alive. No one is invincible. He knows this all too well.

The Rito's green gaze settled back onto the sun setting comfortably on the horizon. The fiery red color made the vast Hyrule field appear blood-ridden, causing Revali's breath to hitch slightly. A vision began to form into his mind. He was inside the large body of Medoh. He peered outside to see absolutely nothing. No moon shone on where the Gerudo desert should be; it was pitch black. The machinery inside of the beast didn't creak or groan like how it usually does. Silence was all the Rito could hear.

He paced around, pondering how all of this could happen and what it could all mean. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, an odd-sounding creature screeched from somewhere above Revali. He came to a pause in his pace and he reached for his bow. Whatever that was isn't a friend. Before the Rito had time to react, Medoh began to tilt ever so slowly, leaving him stumbling towards an open window. His bow slipped through his wing as it fell into the dark abyss that was outside, and Revali began to panic. What the hell was happening?

Medoh eventually tilted to the point where standing was no longer possible. This caused Revali to tumble and lose his balance. He felt the darkness beckon and pull him towards itself. Never has he felt greater fear than this. He let out a cry for help as he helplessly fell into the darkness, but something responded! A stream of bright crimson and black gas emerged from over Medoh, and it soon morphed into something sinister and dark. Revali stared at it in horror, no longer feeling saved. The way the creature twitched and spasmed was unnatural and nightmarish. It has locks of red hair that flowed in this airless world, and it carried a weapon that glowed a bright blue. Revali recognized it right away: it was an ancient weapon. Weapons like that were the only things strong enough to kill the guardians.

Revali had little to no time to react as the ancient weapon swung his way. There was no air for him to glide on and dodge this oncoming attack, nor could he even move at this point. The only thing he could do was watch, horrified.

The weapon only began to graze the feathers on the Rito's head before the vision suddenly disappeared. He let out a gasp as he realized he was falling fast towards the ground. Wasn't he just on Medoh?! Revali quickly spun around, creating an updraft to catch himself. He spread out his wings, letting his feathers catch the wind, and he began a steady ascent back towards the divine beast.

Once landed, Revali removed his bow and sat down on top of Medoh's large head. Out in front of him lay the whole landscape of Hyrule, now enveloped in a dark blanket. Unlike his vision, the moon was still in its rightful place and it dusted the land with a soft white light. Revali sighed heavily, rubbing his tired eyes.

"If only you could speak," He muttered to the divine beast. "You could tell me what happened."

As if to reply, the giant bird moaned softly. Maybe...it understood what he felt. Champions are supposed to develop a connection with their ancient beasts after all. Revali looked towards the Zora Domain as he relaxed. However, it was a short-lived relaxation because he soon noticed a strange, ominous cloud looming over the domain. Yes, it could have been a normal thundercloud shedding rain on the area, but something about it looked...unusual. He would have to leave the Rito unattended for a short while, but he knows they'll be alright. If any danger arrives, the divine beast is well-equipped for battle.

Revali stood, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "I'll return soon, Medoh," He said. "Keep my people safe."

He channeled a little energy inside to create a gust of wind, and soon he was gliding down towards the Zora Domain. Worry tugged at his heart as a million questions rushed through his mind. Was Mipha unharmed? Did she have her trident handy? Is Vah Ruta protecting her?

He shook his head. He always believed his feelings for the Zora princess were ridiculous. He knows tradition says that the Zora princess is supposed to be in love with the Hylian Hero every generation. Yes, he's noticed Link and Mipha have been close nearly their whole lives. It didn't take long for the Zora to start spreading rumors of their love. Fortunately for Revali, it never went outside the Zora walls so no one else knows. Well, it's likely Urbosa and Daruk know but they're not known to gossip.

When did these feelings arise? Well, it's uncertain for Revali. They seemed to come out of nowhere one day while he and Mipha were accompanying one another. However, he does remember the day he affirmed his feelings for her to himself. The Rito was honing his skill of conjuring wind out near the West Hyrule Plains. While in the air, his wing suddenly became sprained and he clumsily fell out of the sky. He didn't land too hard though. As an experienced combat flyer, he knew how to catch himself if he was hit mid-flight.

"Revali! I noticed you were training, what happened?" A soft worried voice called out to him.

Revali, shocked to hear someone witness his failure, looked at the person approaching him. To further his shock, it was a Zora! Not just any Zora, it was Princess Mipha. She must've come fresh out of the Regencia River because her smooth scales were glistening in the sunlight and her royal Zora sash was drenched. She held a Zora trident in her hand that had a few fish pierced on its spikes. He felt his face warm up at the sight of her.

"Nothing that concerns you," Revali said and he looked away with his beak high up in the air. He was trying to appear tough but he noticed Mipha wasn't all too convinced. She placed her trident down on the grass once she was close enough to sit beside him.

She took his sprained wing in her delicate hands, observing it closely. "Hm, I always knew you were capable of injuring yourself," She smiled to herself.

"Wh-What?" Revali exclaimed.

"No one is invincible, Revali," Her yellow eyes met his and he swears his heart soared higher than Medoh. "Is what you put on a front?"

"No, no," The Rito shook his head rather quickly. "What I say is the truth. I am quite literally the best Rito Warrior anyone's ever seen. Hence why I'm the Champion representing my people."

"Well, being a champion for your people isn't all about strength and skill," Mipha replied. "I'm not the strongest nor am I the most skilled. I'm simply compassionate."

The Zora let go of his wing to unwrap her sash from around her body. All Revali could do was sneak a glance and watch her. She wrung out any excess water in the cloth before taking his wing and wrapping the sash from his shoulder to his wing and back around again.

"Thank you," Revali murmured and Mipha nodded. Their eyes met again, causing his heart to swell with a strange overwhelming feeling. It was something he's never felt before. He felt silly for it so he quickly had to tear his gaze away from Mipha. His heart continued to feel odd though.

"Revali?"

The Zora's crystal clear voice caused him to settle his gaze on her again. She seemed a little shy now.

"I...I have a question to ask," She began. "Well, it's more like a...a rant. My father-- you know him-- has been pushing me to build Zora armor for Link. Do you know why?"

Revali thought for a moment. He knew of some Zora traditions, and fortunately, he knew exactly what Mipha was talking about. "Yes, of course, Mipha. You make some special armor for the one you want to marry. In a way, it's like a proposal, right?"

"Correct. The reason why I say this is...well, it's embarrassing," Mipha blushed slightly. "I...I don't have any romantic feelings for Link. Yes, he is fairly attractive for a Hylian, but I feel like we can't bond further than friendship."

"Oh my...," Revali breathed, fairly intrigued. "Do you have someone else in mind? Surely your father won't mind a substitute for Link. I know I wouldn't."

Mipha's lips curled into a smile at Revali's joke, which surprised Revali a bit. But he was glad she found him funny.

"I believe I do have someone else in mind, but I shouldn't say it. I don't know how they feel about me yet," The Zora princess sighed.

"Well, then I'd suggest building that armor for that person and when the time is right, gift it to them."

The yellow eyes of the Zora flitted over to peer into his green ones. Another odd sensation rushed through his whole body this time. It was the same feeling as before but it was stronger and it made him quiver with excitement.

"Thank you, Revali," Mipha smiled. She moved as if to stand, but she quickly planted a kiss on his beak, giving him no time to react. Now she stood and quickly grabbed her trident from off the ground. "Make sure to rest that wing before doing anything strenuous like that."

"I-I will!" Revali stuttered. He felt like he couldn't form words properly after that kiss! He watched, nearly in awe, as she dived back into the Regencia River. Was he in love?

And the answer is yes, he was in love. Quite deep in love actually. And now here he was, flying as fast as he possibly could towards Zora Domain. The Rito noticed details he didn't see back when he was with Medoh. He squinted slightly to get a better look and that's when he saw it. This cloud wasn't just a dangerous thundercloud-- it had traces of those crimson tendrils from his vision. Adrenaline within his body forced him to fly even faster towards Vah Ruta. If there was one message clear in his vision, it was that the creature was after the champions. This could only mean that Mipha was in danger.

Revali was close now. His feathers were beginning to become slick with the rain that fell. Vah Ruta was a shadowy figure in this storm, and he noticed its trunk was lifted and its eyes glowed an ominous red.

"Mipha! Mipha!!" Revali shouted as he circled above the top of the divine beast. The rain was getting rougher and it was nearly impossible to see in the air now so he gradually swooped down to a stable surface.

"Mipha, where are you??" He shouted again. She had to be somewhere nearby. Zelda had told them in their recent meeting to keep guard on the divine beasts so why wasn't she here?

Suddenly, a chilling sound echoed from around Vah Ruta. It sounded eerily familiar to the screech he heard in his vision. It sounded again, this time more bloodcurdling and loud and he was able to recognize it echoing inside of the beast. Revali quickly jumped off the edge of the platform he was standing on and glided into one of Vah Ruta's five balconies.

When he landed, he saw Mipha with the Lightscale Trident she always used to carry around. She was just a speck compared to the large, ghastly-looking creature that came straight out of his vision. He held his breath as its single eye prepared to fire a beam. Mipha just barely dodged out of its path, but she soon stumbled and her champion sash became caught in the ground.

The creature above her formed a guardian spear out of its hand. It was a different ancient weapon from the one that Revali's vision had. He felt stunned with fear once he realized how long the spear was. One throw and that spear will go straight through Mipha! With that knowledge in mind, the Rito gathered as much strength as he could and he conjured a gust of wind to boost himself across Ruta's belly towards Mipha. He practically threw himself on her to get her out of the way just before the spear hit. The sash around Mipha had torn and slid off her shoulder after the impact.

"Revali! Thank Hylia you're here!" The Zora cried as she held onto Revali's shoulders like a lifeline. "This...This strange beast came out of nowhere! Is that thing with Ganon?"

"I don't know!" Revali replied, dodging another beam the creature's eye sent after them. He headed towards one of the balconies to escape. Mipha was still cradled in his arms, but she soon realized they were escaping and she moved around to where she could perch on his back.

As she was making this transition, however, she took notice of the mysterious creature following them out. It was as if it was hunting them. "Hurry, Revali! It's gaining on us!" She warned.

"Well..it won't...catch us!" Revali yelled. They were nearing the balcony now and he quickly leaped off in time. He could feel Mipha tense on his back when gravity pulled them down, but that tension eased off once Revali's wings caught the wind.

The flight back to Medoh was tiresome for the Rito. Their bodies weren't exactly built for transporting other people. They weren't animals. It eventually got to the point where Revali had to drop down to a random location in Hyrule Fields. Once on the ground, he let Mipha hop off before he flopped down onto the cool grass. The Zora princess laid down beside him.

"Thank you, Revali," Mipha spoke. "It's strange how good your timing was. How did you know?"

"There was an odd-looking stormcloud over Ruta," Revali sighed. "I...I was worried about you."

Before all of this craziness, he and Mipha would meet almost regularly once his sprained wing was healed. Sometimes they would organize a meetup in the fields, or Revali would simply fly over to Ruta and they'd watch the stars together on the beast's head. Not once have they revealed their feelings for one another, but it felt as if they have. It was similar to an unspoken agreement. Each day, Revali was certain Mipha shared mutual feelings.

"I'm glad you came," The Zora smiled softly. She moved closer to lay her head on his chest.

Thankfully, Revali had his armor on so she would barely be able to hear his heart beating fast. They lay like this for hours until Revali noticed something strange happening in the sky. He gently moved Mipha off of him so he could stand and observe more closely. He followed the strange pattern over to the Hyrule Castle.

Surrounding the castle was another suspicious-looking cloud, much like the one above Ruta yet it didn't the form of a thundercloud. It was more like a cloud of gas. That was until that gas began to form a solid stream of a substance he has never seen before. From where he was standing, it was almost like an ooze with a mind of its own. That ooze now turned into something else. It took some time, but it eventually formed into the shape of a crimson and black dragon with a dark cloud wrapped around itself. It seemed to have some sort of attraction to the castle as it circled it curiously.

"What...what is that?" Mipha asked. She was witnessing the same event beside Revali.

As he started to speak, the guardians lined up in front of the castle all turned on simultaneously. They didn't glow like they used to-- They were glowing the same red as Ruta's eyes were. The guardians began to crawl around erratically as if they had lost control of themselves. And perhaps they did. He noticed the strange dragon eye them proudly.

Revali held in a breath as he watched everything go down right in front of him. "Mipha...I believe that's what we're fighting against."