Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

What had taken a long time was Revali's preamble as he paced the length of the Flight Range hut. He had gone on about how he normally wasn't so lost for words and he hoped that he was reading the situation correctly because if he wasn't he might die of embarrassment and if he didn't Link would be sworn to secrecy. It had taken Link placing his hands on Revali's shoulders and telling him to just “Say it already,” for Revali to finally present him with what he explained was a gift he hoped could be the start of their courtship.

The conversation after that was much shorter. Link assured him that he did indeed return his feelings but said perhaps they should wait until after they had defeated Ganon to fully act on them. Honestly, Revali had been expecting something like that, it was part of the reason he had waited so long to confess to Link in the first place. Only after a growing sense of dread took root in his stomach, he decided he needed to act sooner.

Link had tried to give the paraglider back but Revali shook his head. “Keep it,” he had told him, “as a promise.”

“That after Ganon is defeated, as soon as Hyrule is safe you'll allow me to show you the best courtship you will ever have the privilege of experiencing. Until then, I'll be patient."

Chapter Text

Revali didn’t think the afterlife should feel so hard and uncomfortable against his back. In fact, he didn’t think that he would be able to feel at all. So then why was there a sharp ache in his shoulders, an annoying jab on his back, and wind in his feathers?

Revali’s eyes snapped open and he struggled to sit up and survey what was happening. The last thing he remembered was Link fighting Ganon and a flash of light. He had presumed that meant Link had won. 

Why then was he here atop Medoh? Revali hardly dared to hope that perhaps Hylia had for some reason taken pity on him. Revali was not one to take pity but if he was being given another chance at living then he certainly wouldn’t turn up his beak at it. He took several deep breaths then stood and stretched out his wings feeling the wind again.

Really he should be patient in standing and moving around again given how much he ached. 

Revali moved towards the edge to peer over it at Rito Village. Surely if he went down there they would be able to help him reorientate himself. Revali didn’t know anyone but they knew of him right? Would they believe him if he told them who he was? Maybe he should first find out if the others were also back, they would know him. Speaking of remembering, if the fight was over and Revali was back did that mean that Link’s memories were back as well?

Revali should be patient before taking to the sky again, even more so before reaching for his gale.

The take-off is not one of his best, it’s actually quite wobbly and he’s lucky the pain that rakes through his shoulders and back doesn’t compel him to land again immediately. But he’s airborne again and the wind is so refreshing filtering through his feathers. He’s unable to help himself as he lets out a loud shout and pushes himself faster toward Hyrule Field. That was the last place he had seen Link.

He is so tired of being patient.

Link blinks against the harsh sunlight, he’s still reeling even as Zelda helps him sit in the grass. She’s speaking he thinks, but right now he’s just focusing on trying to breathe. It’s over, everything was finally over.

“Link? Are you okay?”

Link should probably answer, he hauls himself to his feet. “Very tired, where do we go now?”

“I’m not sure… Kakariko?” Zelda suggests as she pets his horse.

“Probably a good idea, I have other horses we can stop to get you one then head there,” Link signs.

Zelda nods, “What’s her name?”

“Epie,” Link pauses to pet the horse, she had done so well and he would be sure to give her extra treats soon. “The other one is all white, I named him Cloud.”

Zelda nods again and Link laces his fingers together crouching a bit so she can step up to sit side saddle.

“Curse this dress,” Zelda mutters under her breath as Link climbs up himself.

Epie tosses her head protesting having two riders and Link takes a moment to soothe her before setting off to the nearest stable. 

Revali was out of breath by the time he unceremoniously crash lands in Hyrule Field. His body screamed at him to stay down as he climbed to his feet scanning the area for Link or Zelda. Where were they? They weren’t here but where would they have gone? Were the settlements still the same in the area? Would they have gone to the Castle?

Revali looked towards the ruins, no they wouldn’t have, there is nothing there for them right now. Revali took to the sky again as he wondered where to go next. He took a slow circle over the field one last time just in case catching sight of Vah Ruta and Vah Rudania. Maybe Link would have gone to one of them? Even if he hadn’t it would be a good idea to check and see if the others were actually back as well. He couldn’t actually go to Death Mountain currently so he set his sights on Zora’s domain.

“You’re alive as well!” 

Mipha gathering him into her arms was not expected. Revali stiffened, he hadn’t been one for physical touch even before becoming a Champion but it had been such a long time and if anyone was going to get away with springing affection on him it would be Mipha. He wrapped his wings around her in turn. 

“Are Urbosa and Daruk back too? Do you know?” Mipha asked, pulling away and scrutinizing him.

“I’ve not been to check but I would think it strange if we were the only two.”

“I suppose that would be very strange, this means that Link was successful right?”

Revali wants to sit down he suddenly decides, he hadn’t realized that he perhaps had been leaning on Mipha but now his excursion was definitely catching up with him. 

“I can only assume so, I was hoping to perhaps find him here actually,” Revali says as he -in his opinion- very subtly leaned against a pillar.

Judging by the way Mipha narrows her eyes at him he’s not doing as good a job at hiding how tired he was at he thought.

“He’s not here, Revali did you fly straight here?”

“I did take a break in Hyrule Field.”

“You-! If you felt anything like I did when I first woke up you have most certainly over-exerted yourself!”

Revali is saved from what is certain to be a lecture by another Zora stepping into the room. It takes him a long moment to recognize who it is mostly because the last time Revali had seen him he was tiny 

“Mipha,” Sidon starts before realizing that Revali was in the room. He squints in what must be him trying to recognize the Rito as well before Revali is encompassed in another hug. This one was much different than Mipha’s and Revali couldn’t help the squawk that leaves his beak.

“I can’t believe it! We hoped that the rest of you also returned but it is wonderful to see that it was correct!” 

Sidon is loud and Revali makes no attempt at hiding the fact that he takes a step away when he is released. “Yes, though I can imagine that the rest of them are checking in with their villages which is why we’ve not heard from them yet.”

“That’s probably it! Mipha came straight down after she woke up! Everyone was so surprised to see that my dear sister had been revived we thought for a moment that it was perhaps a mass hallucination!” Sidon laughs loudly, “But why are you here then? Surely you have a village to check as well?”

The answer is yes but also no, it’s complicated and Revali opens his beak to tell Sidon that it’s not his concern when Mipha steps in between them. “He came looking for Link but I think now it’s far too late for him to go off again so would you please go tell the inn to prepare a place for him?”

Sidon nods and the grin he gives Revali is at least a little more familiar though like him it had been much smaller the last time Revali had seen him. 

“Certainly!”

“He’s…” Revali trails off as he watches Sidon leave.

“Grown?” Mipha sounds sad, “Yes he’s a far cry from being my little little brother now.”

“We are at least back now, you have been given time with him again.”

“That I have, thank Hylia,” Mipha shakes her head a bit and turns back to Revali. “In the morning we’ll talk more about where Link might have gone, it’s possible that he doesn’t know that we have been revived.”

“Do you think he has regained his memories?”

Mipha’s face goes a bit red as she shrugs, “I’m not sure.”

The next morning dawns bright and clear and Link for once lets himself sleep in, just a little bit. He doesn’t get long before he hears Zelda get up and figures he should as well. The rest of yesterday passed in a blur of talking with Impa and also nearly every other person in Kakariko who approached to gush at him about defeating Ganon. He stretched getting up and greeting Zelda with a small wave.

“Good morning, did you sleep well?”

Link shrugged, “Better than before I guess.”

“I’m sorry if my getting up disturbed you, I had intended to let you sleep in.”

“Don’t worry about it. What are we doing today?”

“I was thinking last night that perhaps we should visit the Divine Beasts, not only to check if they are still operational but also to visit our friend's families now that I can properly express-” Zelda takes a deep breath. “So that I may apologize for failing you all so long ago.

“You didn’t, no one is upset with you.” Link tries to think of something else to say because Zelda looks like she may start crying. “I talked to them you know.”

“Who do you mean? The other Champions?”

“Yeah, when I freed the Divine Beasts from the blights controlling them. None of them blamed you, in fact, they were worried.”

“That’s… kind of them I hardly think I deserved their faith in me still.” Zelda shakes her head and when she looks at Link she’s smiling. “Well, it’ll do me no good to lament things we can’t change now. We should get ready to set out.”

The journey to Zora’s domain is uneventful and Link is almost bored but they arrive at what seems to be a celebration. They’ve hardly stepped foot onto the bridges before once again they are swarmed by people chattering at them. One voice however cuts through and in a moment Link and Zelda are wrapped in a hug.

“Sidon?” Zelda asks.

“We hoped you would come! Mipha and Revali were going to go look for you but Mipha has been unfortunately thoroughly banned from leaving the domain for now.” Sidon is speaking fast as he sets them down.

Link takes a second to catch his breath before Sidon’s words fully register. “Wait Sidon what do you mean Mipha?”

“She’s back! Link she’s back! No one knows exactly how yet but I hardly think that matters, she’s back! That’s what the celebration is for.”

“Mipha is… do you know if the others have been resurrected as well?” Zelda asks.

“Revali is for sure so we can assume the rest are.”

“Link? Zelda?”

There’s no mistaking the quiet voice from behind them and sure enough, when they turn around the Zora Princess is standing there in the scale and bone. This time Zelda is the one to rush forward into a hug nearly toppling poor Mipha. Link joins after Mipha holds an arm out to him.

“How have you returned?” Zelda asks after they separate.

“I have no clue, though if I had to guess I think it must have something to do with your power cleansing Hyrule.”

“My power? Are you sure?”

“That is my best guess, if anyone would be possible of it I think it would be you.”

“Well regardless of how, I am so very happy you’re back.”

“As am I.”

“Sidon said that Revali was here?” Link asks and he tries to convince himself that the reason he asks after the Rito in particular is just because he was mentioned and not because of the tug he felt in his chest at the idea of Revali actually being alive. 

“He was yes, but he left yesterday to return to Rito Village.” He must have had a look on his face because Mipha hurries to continue on. “We had originally planned to go looking for you but I uh- have been told I should stay in the domain for a while longer.”

Zelda nods in understanding, “I imagine that no one here is eager for you to leave again if you’ve only just returned.”

“Yes exactly, when you do go I would appreciate it if you would perhaps write to keep me updated?”

“Of course, maybe you can join us eventually,” Link signs.

“Hopefully, for now though won’t you enjoy the celebration?”

Link wanted to leave now if he was being honest but he did also want to spend more time with Mipha. It couldn’t hurt to celebrate her return and leave in the morning.

After all, now that Ganon was defeated he had the time he could have a little patience.

Chapter Text

The hug that Link and Zelda receive upon making it to Goron City is much more painful than the ones they received in Zora’s domain but only because it is a rock that they are pressed into.

“Little guy! Princess! How in Hyrule did you do it?”

“If you are referring to you and the others being brought back-”

“The others are back as well? That’s wonderful news I had hoped they would be!”

“Yes, they are,” Zelda continues. “Mipha’s current theory is that I somehow resurrected everyone when I sealed away Ganon.”

“Well, then I should thank you!” Daruk scoops up Zelda in another hug.

“There’s no need really,” Zelda shakes her head. “We are simply happy that you’ve returned.”

“We’re going to go visit Revali and Urbosa too if you’d like to come with us,” Link signs.

“Hmm if we leave tomorrow I am willing to go with you, you’ll understand if I am not quite eager to leave again but I would like to see the others.”

“Don’t worry about it we’ll leave when you are ready to, though,” Link grimaces and fans himself. “We’ll be staying at Foothill stable.”

“There’s a stable down there now?” Daruk rubs his chin and the look on his face could only be described as melancholy. “I suppose that a lot has changed since-”

“I have a map if you’d like to see,” Link cuts him off because he doesn’t want Daruk to have to think about his death for too long.

“Yes, I’d like that, come there's rock roast cooking.” 

Zelda winces at the thought of the stoney meal but Link happily follows Daruk.

Revali had thought about what his return to Rito Village would be like after Ganon had been defeated. He imagined the praise and cheer he would receive despite the fact that his part in the battle was support. He imagined perhaps there'd be a celebration, he wasn't keen on them but if the village wished it then it would happen. After, when he was trapped aboard Vah Medoh he didn't want to think about the village below at all for a long time because whenever he did the associated feeling of being a failure attacked him. Still, it was his home and there was nowhere else for him to go, or rather his plans of looking for Link on his own were heavily discouraged by Mipha. She had told him in a stern voice that he needed to rest for a bit to give his body a chance to get used to being a physical thing again. He opted not to point out that she had been about to travel with him if not for her father forbidding it. 

And it's not like he hadn't wanted to check on Rito Village just that there was an edge of nerves surrounding the idea. Where the other Champions had people who would recognize their face (he was actually only assuming with Urbosa but he thought he remembered her mentioning a sister so it was a possibility that she had a direct relative still) Revali's chances of someone recognizing him and not just his name were significantly lower if not nonexistent.

He had asked the first guard he came across if there was an Elder he could speak to, he had been going to ask if there was a leader but given that Link had just saved Hyrule it was likely that there wasn't one elected anymore. The guard (Mazli? Had that been his name?) was hesitant at first but agreed. Explaining to the Elder and later others who had overheard had taken longer than he would have liked, and had also resulted in him performing his gale probably too many times than Mipha would have liked. They had believed him though and Revali was grateful for that at least.

Now a few days and a letter from Mipha stating that Link had come to Zora's domain after all and was planning on heading to him after stopping at Death Mountain later and Revali found himself unsure of what to do. He didn't want to spend all of his time in the inn that was serving to temporarily house him until more permanent arrangements could be made but while the walkways of the village were largely still the same the people that wandered them were unfamiliar. He considered as he ate an early lunch the possibility of going to visit Tabatha Village but quickly put the thought out of his head. He wouldn't find what he wanted there anyway. Besides he didn't want to be away once Link did reach Rito village. He settled then that the flight range was a good spot to occupy his time.

He rose from the cooking pot and thought for a moment. Revali was sure that he had seen a bowyer hut next to the Elder's it would be a good idea to stop there first. He wasn't sure if the Flight Range held the supplies it used to. On his way out of the hut though he was, for a lack of a better word, ambushed. What had ambushed him though was of little threat as he quickly realized that the child that was now chattering at him too fast for him to keep up was one that he had seen around the village.

"Notts please do give him space." 

Revali looked up to see who he assumed was the fledglings mother fixing her with a disproving look.

"I'm sorry about that, we had been trying to keep the children from getting to you but it was bound to happen sooner or later." Amali (Revali was pretty sure about that, they had actually had a nice conversation the first day he was back and she graciously shared some of the stew she had been making) said as Notts dutifully took two steps back from him.

"I hadn't realized you had a kid, it makes more sense now how much food you've been preparing." Revali eyed Notts a bit warily, she looked like she was ready to burst if she didn’t start talking again. 

"Five," Amali said.

"Five," Revali repeated. "The amount of food definitely makes more sense.” Amali only laughed and nodded adjusting her grip on the basket of supplies she was carrying. Ah, he was standing in her way wasn’t he? 

"Are you really him?" Notts asked as he stepped aside.

"Notts."

"It's alright," Revalied waved a wing bending just a bit so that he didn't tower over the fledgling. "If by him you mean am I Revali? Then yes I am." 

"Really?!" 

"The one and only."

"I knew it! Knotts said that it wasn't true but the rest of us heard the adults talking. How did you come back? Will you show me the big bird at the top of the village? Tulin's fathers got hurt by it a while ago but now it's calmed down because Link did something up there!"

Revali tries very hard not to wince at the mention of Medoh, he hadn't been back up there since waking up, and when he considered the idea a tightness in his chest formed and breathing became harder. Instead, he focuses on the first question. "We don't exactly know how I and the other champions returned but the current theory is that Princess Zelda was somehow able to resurrect us." 

"The other champions are back too?!" This time Revali does wince a bit from the shrill volume of Notts' voice.

"Notts please, he was just leaving." Amali shoots him a sympathetic look as she gently ushers the girl into the cooking hut. 

"But mom!"

"No more," she turned back to Revali. "I'm sorry for the inevitable questions you'll have to bear from the other children as well."

"It's not a problem they are just curious albeit a bit…"

"overwhelming?"

Revali nods, "After a while yes. Could I ask you something?"

"Certainly, what is it?" 

"The bowyer, what is their name?"

"Harth, is that where you were headed?" 

"Yes, I had a few questions for him."

"I won't keep you then, he should be in his workshop now." 

Revali nods and with a wave to Notts who is firmly held against Amali’s side, probably to keep her from following him. He sets up the walkways to the Bowyer hut. When he gets there he nearly turns around and leaves because the person in the hut is somehow so familiar but the thought that springs to his mind couldn’t possibly be correct, he’s left staring as he tries to process who he is seeing.

“Can I help you?”

Revali blinks and realizes that perhaps staring was rather rude. “Ah yes, you’re Harth, right? I’m-”

“Revali? You don’t need to introduce yourself, everyone except perhaps the fledglings know of you though I must admit I didn’t quite believe it at first given how…” Harth narrows his eyes and Revali just knows that he’s looking at the damned spots on his cheeks. The rest of the village had also no doubt taken note of them but they had at least been generous to not mention anything. 

“It’s great to know that I somehow don’t live up to your expectations, however, I am Revali and I am a Champion whether or not you believe I am capable of it.” Revali can’t help the bite to his words, he hadn’t been doubted in a long while at least not so openly and he certainly wasn’t about to let some random bowyer do so. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just a bit of a surprise.” Harth cleared his throat, “I saw you perform your gale, I don’t doubt your abilities.”

Revali doesn’t answer, instead inviting himself in and walking over to the bow that sat on a table. He picks it up studying it, it looks like it’s perhaps made with some of the same techniques from when he was, well, last alive but it also seems like there are new techniques that must have been developed after.

“You are the bowyer correct? Can you confirm something for me?”

“Sure, if I can.”

“My bow, last I saw of it Link had it before then was it under your care?”

“Partly,” Harth nods. “Elder Kaneli kept it for the most part but I did make sure that it was well kept, and I helped Link with the care after it was passed to him as well. You’ll have to forgive us for giving it to him, we had no way of knowing you would return to collect it.”

Revali waves a wing, “You did what you assumed was the best, I’ll collect it when I see him next. I am headed to the Flight Range today, do you know if there is still supplies there?”

“I don’t, Teba would be the one to ask. You are welcome to borrow that bow though if you’d like.” 

“Appreciated.”

“Speaking of my husband, he also has something of yours so if you see him you might want to ask.”

“How much of my things still remain?” Revali asks because honestly, he was a bit surprised that anything had managed to survive at all.

“Nothing else that I know of I’m afraid, Teba only found your diary recently though so it’s possible that-”

“My what ? No, that’s not mine.” Revali had been joking when he told Link that he might come across it, he didn’t think that it was actually a possibility.

Judging by the look Harth gives him he doesn’t actually believe that it’s not Revali’s. “Okay well, if you want it… for whatever reason, Teba is usually at the Flight Range himself with Tulin so you can ask for it when you go.

“I may, just to make sure that no one else has to keep track of it.” Revali stands up a bit straighter and picks the bow back up. “I’ll be going.”

“Okay,” Harth is still looking at him like he knows more than he’ll say so Revali turns and very calmly leaves. 

He doesn’t end up asking Teba about his diary when he runs into him and his son at the Flight Range. He doesn’t get the chance to since Tulin very excitedly bombards him with pleas to show him his archery. Revali was going to oblige before Teba interrupted stating matter-of-factly that they should head back for lunch. His exchange with Teba was curt, nothing more than greetings and Teba telling him to please use whatever he wanted.

The sun is setting now and Revali is rigging something that he had only tested a few times before he didn’t have the chance to improve upon it. He was tired and admittedly he hadn’t done great with his passes at the targets. He had known that there was a chance that his skills wouldn’t match what they were before but he hadn’t been prepared to face it. He opted to test something that he knew wasn’t up to par so he could justify it not working. 

Searching through the Flight Range drawers had revealed that his things were in fact still there though to anyone else they probably seemed like inconsequential items. A small mirror, something that could best be described as an easel but with no place for a canvas, and thin rope. Revali tied the mirror to the stand positioning it so that it could reflect the sun’s (or a lantern’s if it was night) light into a more concentrated ray. The idea he had wasn’t perfect because it relied on unfortunately someone who wasn’t a Rito to fully work but the basic concept was if someone could point the light at a target Revali could fire at the light and combat the fact that otherwise he would be hard pressed to see what he was aiming at. He’s picking up his borrowed bow to test the idea when an unfamiliar voice calls out.

“Hey! You!”

Revali scans the area and spots… no one. There’s nobody around who could have called out to him and yet he was sure he heard a voice.

“Right here! The mirror!”

The mirror? Was this some side effect of dying and coming back? Revali was hearing voices now? Slowly he turns the mirror from how he had it so that he could look into it. He expects his reflection, what he does not see is his reflection. Instead, there is someone he’s never seen before with bright orange hair.

“Took you long enough! Do you know someone named Link?”

“Excuse me?” That’s all Revali can say because right now he can’t possibly wrap his head around talking to someone in a mirror. 

The person in the mirror rolls her eyes. “Link, do you know him? He’s also been referred to as the Hero? Uh the Hero of Twilight possibly, I was told he’d take the form of a divine beast so maybe-”

“Divine beast?”

“Yes! Okay, so you do know him?”

“That’s not- no, that is to say-” Revali shakes his head because this is all so very confusing and he’s not entirely convinced this isn’t somehow a dream. “Who are you?”

“Midna I am the leader of the Twili, do you or do you not know-”

“Yes! I know Link! What do you want with him?”

“I need his help.”

“That’s a wonderful explanation.” 

Midna groans, “I don’t have much time, I am surprised I got this to work at all and I expect that as soon as the hours of Twilight pass I won’t be able to speak like this again until the next day. Something is wrong in my home, I’ve been having horrible dreams that feel like premonitions and I’ve seen Link fighting someone he’s fought before. Someone we previously thought defeated, Link looks different but it’s certainly him which means that he can help.”

“That all sounds nonsensical.”

“What’s your name?”

“Revali,” he sighs, accepting the fact that he is currently talking to a mirror, he’s still skeptical about everything the mirror is saying though.

“Revali, I am fully aware that you have no reason to believe or trust me but the dreams I’ve been having don’t show Link fighting here, they show him fighting in a place I can not recognize which leads me to believe that your home may be in danger too.” And okay Revali is paying a bit more attention now because he just got back to his home he would like for it to not be threatened. “Even if you don’t believe me I ask that you at the very least let me talk to Link so I might ask that he help again.”

Revali considers this for a long time, he supposes that there would be no harm in at least letting Midna speak with Link. She hasn’t posed a threat to him in the time that he’s been talking with her and she does seem earnest. Also if she’s right about the danger being here rather than wherever she is he would like to know how he could eradicate it.

“The last I heard he will be making his way here soon, I can not tell you when he’ll arrive exactly but… I’ll pass along the message and let him decide if he’d like to speak with you.”

Midna doesn’t look pleased but she nods, “Thank you.”

Revali doesn’t get a chance to respond before her image flickers and he’s left staring at his reflection. Hesitantly Revali reaches out to move the mirror so that he isn’t in the frame but Midna doesn’t reappear. 

Revali has no clue what to make of the conversation he’s just had but as he tidies his things away he figures that he would at least tell Link like he said he would. Midna had said she was a leader and wanting to protect her people was something he could sympathize with. For now though, he had to wait for Link to reach the village.

Chapter Text

Revali spends the next few days with the mirror tucked back in the drawers. He’s taken up residence at the Flight Range and while he feels a bit bad about commandeering Teba and Tulin’s training place he hadn’t been able to stand borrowing space in the Inn. Besides, he had told them both they were still welcome to use it. They hadn’t been by though, and part of Revali wondered if it was something he did, another part thought them a bit foolish because they had an opportunity for him to help train them and they weren’t taking it. Revali was making steady progress in regaining the strength and skill he had lost even if he had to retire early some days because the ache in his back and shoulders ran too deep to push past it. He doesn’t test out using the mirror again.

He isn’t necessarily avoiding Midna, it’s just that he doesn’t have anything to say to her. He doesn’t want to hear about her troubles and how they are going to soon also trouble Link. He’s considered the idea of simply not telling Link at all but if what Midna says is true it’ll soon possibly be his trouble as well. Besides he knows that Link will be upset if he finds out that he purposely kept this information from him because Link will most undoubtedly want to help. Link will sit and listen to everything Midna has to say and then he will nod and the bleeding heart that he is he will ask where he should start to fix things. 

It’s unfair.

It’s so incredibly unfair Revali thinks as he nocks another arrow. His own feelings aside, which for Revali seemed to be a rare thing, it’s unfair to Link. Link had worked so hard to finally defeat Ganon and save Hyrule and now all of a sudden he couldn’t even actually rest. Because now some new threat was encroaching on his peace. Link deserved so badly to finally be able just… rest, to stop having to be so damned cautious and vigilant. He deserved to be able to relax and let Revali finally make due on his promise from all those years ago. He releases the arrow with a wrong-sounding twang. The arrow sinks into the target very much off its mark and Revali groans, dropping back down to the landing to inspect the snapped bowstring. For all of the supplies the Flight Range holds Teba must have run out the things he needs to repair the bow, that or he was content in using broken bows as an excuse to see his husband. Either way, Revali would need to pay Harth a visit himself. 

When he knocks against the frame to the bowyer’s hut Harth stares at him with what seems like a surprised look. 

“Yes, is there something I can do for you?” He asks, shaking himself from his surprise.

“The Flight Range doesn’t have what I need to repair the bow.” Revali holds out the Swallow bow and tries not to wonder what could possibly have made Harth look at him like that.

Harth looks at the bow for a long moment before taking it. “I can fix it no worries… that is unless you wanted to do it yourself? You’re welcome to my tools.”

“No, I trust you can mend it besides I ought to stop to pick up more supplies to take back.”

“Oh, you’re going back?”

“...Yes? Unless the more permanent housing is done?”

“No, I just thought that you’d be setting out with the others is all.” Harth is looking at him like Revali is missing something important.

Revali doesn’t appreciate being left out of the loop of anything. “Who? What do you mean?”

“Link and Zelda, the-”

“Link is here?” Revali perhaps cuts Harth off a bit too quickly for the passive calm he wants to exhibit.

“Yeah he just arrived a while ago I told him that you were at the Range and he… disappeared? In, like this shiny blue light?” Harth shakes his head a bit, “Anyways Zelda is in the Inn and I heard the Goron Champion is at…” 

Revali is no longer paying attention as he watches the shrine visible from Harth’s hut. He had been avoiding it because the structure and appearance reminded him a touch too closely of Vah Medoh and thinking of her brought panic and unease to Revali’s chest, but now there is something strange happening. There is a blue light shimmering and coalescing on the platform. It takes Revali only a second to recognize who it is that just appeared. He would later deny that he launched himself out of the window upon spotting Link but Harth who is left spluttering and following his figure with confusion would tell you that he very much did. Revali is at the shrine in a split second and he’s reaching out to draw Link into a hug before he realizes that there is no recognition that should be there in Link's eyes and he stops drawing short as he studies Link’s face. He looks like he knows who he is but doesn’t exactly know him.  

When he sees Revali Link thinks for a moment that he’s going to attack him somehow, it would certainly track with the memories he has of the Rito Champion but Revali stops short, dropping his hands down.

“Took you long enough to come,” Revali’s words are clipped and it seems like he wants to say something else.

“Sorry? We started in Zora’s Domain, Mipha said you had been there? And then we stopped at Death Mountain.” Link signs, he looks at Revali closely trying to figure out what seems different about him.

“I was there, yes…” Revali seems a bit hesitant to finish. “When I woke up I went to look for you and Zelda but we must have missed each other, I went to see if Mipha had returned as well after.”

Link makes a small noise of acknowledgment. That seems a bit out of character but he has to figure that he’s missing important details about Revali just like he is about everyone else. “But we’re headed to Urbosa next and you are welcome to come with us.”

Revali nods, seeming to consider the offer, “I would like to yes, but there is also something I need to tell you.”

“Okay? Go ahead.” 

“I can’t now is the thing it needs to be dusk.”

“That’s… suspicious? Has something happened?” Link looks at Revali carefully trying to figure out what he might be talking about. “I will admit that I don’t remember you very well but this feels… well, incorrect? That’s the best way to describe it.”

Revali’s heart falls at Link’s confirmation that he doesn’t remember anything. “That must be… difficult.” He says carefully, trying to keep his own sadness out of his voice. 

Link shrugs, “Yes and no. It doesn’t really matter most of the time only where I’m meant to know things or people. Like you guys, I think we were all friends? And Mipha and Daruk certainly have acted as though we were but, from what I remember about you…” Link trails off with a sheepish grin. “You were arrogant and honestly a bit rude.”

“Ah,” Revali frowns a bit, Link remembered less than he thought. “I will admit at first I didn’t like you very much but towards the end,” Revali pauses, considering his words carefully. “We got along well.”

That was an understatement and Revali’s heart hurt to have to dismiss everything but if Link didn’t remember then he wasn’t going to overload him with trying to remind him for Revali’s own gain. He had thought the Goddess was being kind in returning him to have more time but now it seemed like a sick joke so that she can laugh at Revali’s misery. He had been so patient for nothing. 

“That’s great!” Link smiles, and steps down from the shrine. “If what you need to tell me has to wait until dusk then let’s go find Zelda, Daruk is at the stable we didn’t exactly want to risk the bridges.” 

Revali only nods and lets Link lead the way, they aren’t walking for long until there’s a quiet noise of excitement and Zelda is rushing over to him.

“Revali! It’s good to see you, are you doing okay?”

“Princess,” Revali nods in greeting. “I’m not dead anymore so I think I would say I am doing very well.”

“Just Zelda is fine please, and yes but that isn’t quite what I meant. Mipha mentioned you went to Zora’s Domain instead of here first and… forgive me if this is presumptuous but I would imagine it’s been a bit hard to adjust to so much time passing.”

What she doesn’t say is clear in the way she looks at him, and Revali wants to tell her to keep her pity for others. But her expression is earnest and loath as he is to admit part of the reason he had been spending so much time at the Flight Range is while it was still his home as many people assured him Rito Village was unfamiliar and the people not ones he knew. So instead he only gives a noncommittal hum.

“I’ll adjust.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“There’s no need Zelda. I’ll be just fine.”

She hesitates for a moment, “Would you like a hug?

“I-” Revali was caught off guard because while Mipha had given him one it had been a while since then. “If you needed one to assure yourself that I am indeed here then I won’t say no.”

Zelda’s hug is more gentle than Mipha’s had been and she seems a little hesitant. The sudden pressure from the side Link had been standing on is tighter and Zelda makes a quiet noise of surprise as he joins the hug. Revali just barely catches his own surprise.

Still, it's nice, and memories present or not he's happy that Link is safe. Zelda too and the rest of the Champions. He wraps his wings around them for a moment before unceremoniously pulling away. 

"There is an important matter that I must inform Link about and I suppose that you should probably know as well. However, I don't actually have the information I was asked to relay and it must be dusk to catch you both up to speed." 

Zelda looks to Link who only gives her a shrug. "Right well," she looks up surveying the sky. "That'll be soon, we can go say hello to Daruk while we wait?"

Revali nods then pauses to think. "We also have to go to the Flight Range I need something from there, unless either of you have a mirror?" 

Link and Zelda make no attempt to hide their bafflement. 

"I have a camera?" Link offers then gestures to his Sheikah slate.

"No I doubt that'll work, the Range it is then but" He waves a wing "going to see Daruk isn’t a terrible idea."

The group is about to make their way down to the stable when there’s the sound of rapid footsteps behind them. Revali doesn’t miss the way that Link turns in the same manner of panic and caution he does. Molli stops just before them and takes a few deep breaths, she’s clutching the bow that Revali had dropped off to Harth.

“There you are Mister Revali! Dad asked me to find you to give this back.” She holds out the bow to Revali. “He said that you flew out the window without saying where you were going.” 

Revalis face heats up just a bit as he takes the bow from Molli. “He doesn’t know what he saw.”

“No,” Link chimes in. “I’m pretty sure that’s the direction I saw you coming from?” He signs, an amused grin on his face and Revali can see Zelda laughing to herself from the corner of his eye.

“I used the door like a normal person, are we going to see Daruk or not?” Revali asks, he gives Molli a pat on the head and then turns and starts down the bridge. He pretends not to hear Zelda asking if he really went out the window. 

Chapter Text

Daruk’s hug turns out to not be nearly as gentle as any other ones that Revali has gotten so far and he also doesn’t ask, instead sweeping Revali up the moment he spotted him in the stable. There’s a brief conversation that is much like the rest he’s had, ‘how are you holding up? Do you need anything? I’m here if you do.’

Revali is honestly a bit overwhelmed by the constant ‘Are you okay?’ questions he’s been getting but it was to be expected. It’s simply not every day that you come back from being dead for a hundred years. He wonders briefly how everyone else is handling the questions. He could ask, he guesses but he’s never been the closest to anyone else despite the progress he had made pre-calamity. 

“So there’s something else you’re gonna have to do?” Daruk asks as Link explains that they’ll be heading to the Flight Range soon.

“Yeah, that's what it sounds like,” Link signs then shrugs.

“A shame, seems like there’s no rest for the hero is there?”

Revali is only half listening to the conversation but that makes his chest hurt. It’s what had been on his mind since Midna had asked him to get Link for her. Things were supposed to be over, were they not? Everyone was back- somehow- so now the most pressing things to be working on were… restoring parts of Hyrule probably and also restoring Link’s memory. Though perhaps he was more invested in the latter than the rest of them. He looks outside taking note of the sun dipping lower.

“Will you be coming to the Flight Range with us?” Revali asks, cutting off the conversation. 

“I don’t really see a reason for me to unless you think you’ll need me there?” Daruk asks, looking towards Link.

Link shakes his head, “No I don’t think so, we’ll update you when we come back.”

Daruk nods, “Alright then, be safe and all that.”

The group gets to the Flight Range just as the sun is hitting the mountain peaks, Revali takes them up the ladder and then proceeds to busy himself with digging in a drawer. Link looks around and he notes that the hut looks just a touch different, like Revali has maybe been staying here and now that he thinks about it Link did remember a new hut being constructed in the Village so it’s possible that he has been. Was… there nowhere else for Revali to stay? Surely the Inn if no one had a spare hammock? Thinking about it though from what Link remembered of him Link wasn’t sure Revali would accept that offer from someone. Huh, that was…sad? Distressing? Link wasn’t really sure. He and Zelda follow Revali out onto the landing watching as he sets up a small mirror on a stand.

“So I will admit that I didn’t do this on purpose last time so I am simply recreating what happened,” Revali says as he works.

“And what is it exactly that happened?” Zelda asks.

Revali is quiet for a long moment before answering. “I’m… not entirely sure.”

The group sits on the landing settling in as Revali simply stares at the mirror.

“So,” Link signs after a few minutes of waiting. “What was it that h-”

“Just- give it a moment.” Revali snaps, cutting him off, he shifts closer and reaches out a finger to tap the mirror. “Hello? I brought him.” He says quietly.

“Revali maybe if you to-”

“Ssh!”

Revali raises a wing to shush Zelda and Link fixes him with a concerned look. The Rito was acting weird, even from what he remembered. Link had no clue what Revali was hoping to show them but it was fully dusk now and it would be getting colder soon. Link is about to suggest they maybe try again tomorrow when Revali lets out a triumphant noise and sits back so they can see the mirror fully again.

And the mirror now no longer looks like a mirror. Instead of a reflection a woman with bright orange hair is peering out at all of them and her face breaks out into a wide grin when their eyes meet.

“Link!”

Oh, he should know who she is. He doesn’t though so he simply raises a hand in greeting.

“You look different, I guess I knew that to a degree but I didn’t quite actually expect it, and Zelda! You also look different.”

Zelda starts as the woman’s gaze is suddenly turned on her. 

“So do tell because somehow I doubt birdie here-”

“Hey!”

“- has not done a good job of explaining it.” Midna continues unbothered by Revali’s interruption. “What do you know?”

“Nothing, he said he couldn’t explain, that it’d be better to see ourselves.” Link answers.

“Ah well, then I really should start from the beginning, shouldn’t I? I know it’s been a while but-”

“I’m sorry,” it’s Link who interrupts this time. “I don’t… I don’t remember you at all.”

Midna looks confused and her gaze turns back to Zelda who only shakes her head sadly.

“You… don’t remember me either?”

“No, I’m sorry I don’t recall ever meeting you.”

“Well,” Midna pauses, “That’s… unexpected.”

“It’s a long story but I really don’t remember anything actually so please don’t take it personally?” Link signs.

“And I’m sorry I don’t know you either,” Zelda adds.

“No, no issue, it doesn’t really matter I suppose…  so long as you are still willing to help?” Midna asks, a look of apprehension on her face.

“Of course!” Link signs, immediately. “Of course, whatever we can do we will, so please tell us what’s happening.” 

Midna nods her smile returning, “I’ve been having dreams of Twilight over taking Hyrule again- it has once before but you stopped it so I fully believe you can again.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly do you mean by “Twilight”?” Zelda asks.

“Exactly that,” Midna shrugs. “Well, not exactly but I do mean the Twilight you are thinking of. I am from the Twilight realm a place covered in eternal twilight that is home to the Twili, my people.” Midna explains, “It was threatened by a man named Zant and Link helped me in defeating him. When Zant was in power he wanted to cast your kingdom into twilight and rule it as well and now I fear that he is trying again.”

“But you said I defeated him?” Link looks confused as signs.

“You did yes but… well Zant did swear that his ‘god’ would resurrect him.”

“And who’s his ‘god’?”

“The Demon King Ganondorf.”

Link swallows and Revali and Zelda go quiet as well.

“I- I banished him, Link do you think I somehow messed up?” Zelda asks quietly, looking over at him.

Link shrugs, “I don’t know.”

“Banished him how?” Midna says, speaking up.

“Well, I sealed him away… I guess I don’t actually know where to.”

Midna nods, seeming unbothered by Zelda’s uncertainty. “It’s possible when you sealed him away he used whatever power he had remaining to resurrect Zant and here we are now.”

“Which is?” Revali asks, finally speaking up.

“Well…” Midna shifts her gaze over to him. “I’ve looked everywhere here and he’s nowhere to be found so I can only imagine he is somewhere there.”

“Okay, so we’ll start looking, any ideas where?” Link asks.

“I shattered the only gateway between our realms but I suppose you could check the Arbiter’s Grounds?”

“Where?” Revali asks.

“They’re ruins,” Zelda explains.

“Yeah, they used to be a prison but they’re just in ruin now. They housed a mirror that served as a gateway between our realms, I broke it but maybe the shards are still there or something? I can’t imagine why but who knows.”

“No, they’re- they’re very much ruins. There’s not even any sort of structure anymore, it’s mostly just a named place in the desert now.”

“There’s… not like an arena?”

“No, I don’t know too much about them but I do know where you mean and I’ve read a little about them. I can assure you though there’s nothing there anymore.”

“Should we go look anyway?” Revali asks.

“I’m afraid it might not be worth it. If there really were the ruins of a prison still there I would have been made to learn about them, if they weren’t back then they certainly aren’t now.”

“So then where do we look?” Link asks. 

“Well…ah I’m sorry what’s your name miss?”

Midna laughs, “Midna, that’s on me I suppose. I should have told you that when you said you didn’t remember meeting me.”

“Midna,” Zelda repeats, nodding a bit. “You say that you shattered this mirror right?” 

“Yeah.”

“Do you think it’s possible the shards would have been collected?”

“I didn’t think there were any shards at all if I’m being honest, though I suppose if there were… you probably collected them?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m thinking. While I’m a little confused about how exactly we’ve supposedly met, if I thought anything like I do now then I would think to collect the shards and store them somewhere.”

“So then do you have a place in mind?”

“I do… though it’s…” Zelda trails off.

“The castle?” Link fills in before turning to Midna just in time to see the mirror flicker. He frowns but continues, “We’ll check there and let you know what we find.”

Midna nods, “We have the beginnings of a pl-” The mirror flickers again cutting her sentence short. “Looks like time’s up for me. You know where you can find me when you need me again.”

“Wait what? Midna?” Link watches as the mirror flickers and becomes just a mirror again.

“Well, I suppose we should go and fill Daruk in,” Zelda says after a moment of silence.

“Right,” Link signs and then climbs to his feet offering Zelda a hand.

Revali stands after taking the mirror down, he’s oddly quiet as he tucks it away back into the drawer. Link stops and gets his attention.

“Maybe take it with us?” He signs. 

“Mm, I suppose it could come in handy,” Revali says, pulling the mirror back out. He pauses before holding it out to Link.

Link pauses for a little longer before taking it and tucking it into one of his pouches. Zelda clears her throat and the group heads back to the village. 

Chapter Text

The next morning it’s decided that Link, Zelda, and Revali will go to the castle and Daruk will go to Gerudo town to not only update Urbosa but also request that she visit Zora’s Domain so they can all finally meet again. They part ways with the plan to meet back at the Domain within a week. Realistically Link figures that they’ll make it back first but despite wanting to see her again he has no desire to make Urbosa and Daruk rush the trip. 

His own trip with Zelda and Revali is slower than it would have been on his own and he gets the sneaking suspicion that Zelda isn't in any hurry either. Revali is a few feet ahead of them and several above so he nudges Epie a little closer to Cloud. Link catches Zelda's attention before dropping the reins, Epie is smart she would keep to the path.

"How are you feeling?" He asks.

Zelda considers this momentarily then shrugs, "I'm not sure yet. I knew that eventually I would have to go back in but I didn't realize it would be so soon."

"You don't have to, you could stay outside with Revali and I'll go look for it," Link signs, Zelda only shakes her head.

"You don't know what you're looking for, granted neither do I really but I at least know good places to look."

"Well… just know that I'm here."

Zelda gives him a small smile and then just nods.

The group camps outside the castle for the night deciding that it would be better to tackle it with fresh light. There’s a brief discussion about keeping watch but Link assures them that he’s had fairly good luck with not getting caught unawares when he’s had to camp alone. Surely now that the Calamity is over the risk is even less, so he insists that it’ll be fine and Zelda tiredly settles into her bedroll while Revali warily sets his hammock up in the trees. Link thinks briefly as he settles into his bedroll that this is sort of nice and maybe the entire group would have to find an excuse to camp together when they all finally have the time.

The next morning they make it into the castle relatively easily, especially now that there weren't thousands of lasers focused on every move they could make. Zelda slows as she looks around surveying what has become of the once magnificent castle and strangely enough, Revali also seems to be a bit disconcerted. The treasury is the first place they check, but it's empty, long since looted. Zelda doesn't say anything, only turning to lead them down a different hallway. Link glances behind him at Revali and then quickens his pace a bit to be next to Zelda.

Revali doesn't like how the castle feels. It's… sad, a pathetic excuse for what it once was and as Zelda leads them through the halls he finds himself wishing to be able to see outside. It's in ruins and largely empty and yet somehow the dust and gloom seem to be pressing in. He looks up ahead at his current traveling companions, he can't make out Link's signs and Zelda is speaking too quietly for him to hear. They were talking about something earlier too on the way here. Reasonably Revali knows that if anyone should feel uncomfortable here it should be Zelda but she doesn't really appear to be. He can't place why he feels so uncomfortable here anyway and with something he refuses to call jealousy, he continues to watch the quiet discussion. 

He's sure Link can feel him watching, but he lets Revali intrude anyway. Maybe that's why Revali felt out of place, he hadn't visited the castle all that much before he died, and when he did he felt like an outsider. Mipha fit in easiest at any of the royal proceedings they attended and Urbosa the second. Revali didn’t know if Daruk understood the concept of self-consciousness but he certainly seemed to do fine enough at the castle. Revali never liked having to attend anything and if it wouldn’t have reflected badly on Rito Village as a whole he would have skipped anything he could. Now as he walked through the empty halls a small part of him wished for the uncomfortable feeling that he had all those years ago instead of the one he had now.

They are walking for a while before Revali recognizes the doors they are in front of Zelda and Link both pause exchanging glances before Link steps forwards and nudges the doors open. To say the throne room is in disarray would be an understatement but Revali certainly didn’t expect a large hole in the center of it, he’s reminded that he doesn’t actually know too much about Link’s fight with Gannon other than it started in the castle and ended in the field. After his and Medoh’s attack, he had been hard-pressed to stay aware of anything else. While Link and Zelda carefully skirt around the edge of the hole he takes flight landing by the throne to wait for them. 

“Do you have flint?” Zelda asks once she and Link make it.

Link pulls out two pieces dropping them into the torches figuring that's what Zelda wanted. After a confirming nod from her, he strikes them setting the torches alight. Revali watches amused as this causes a statue to move behind the throne.

“Are all Hylians prone to squirreling things away or is it just royalty?” He asks as Zelda peeks her head into the exposed cubby.

“I would expect the castle probably has more than the average home,” Zelda mutters absently as she steps back. “But unfortunately I do not know of any others.”

“Well… what now? Do we just go or should we start scouring the castle?” Link asks.

“I don’t think it’ll do us much good to look blindly-”

Zelda is cut off by a discordant noise ringing out and the throne room gets significantly darker. When the trio turns there is a figure in the air above the hole. Link steps in front of Zelda and to his slight surprise an arrow flies by him aimed at the figure. The figure waves it away before tilting his head.

“You look… different,” the figure says, studying Link.

“Zant?” Zelda questions causing his gaze to shift to her.

“Oh! You are also different.” Zant’s gaze then moves to Revali. “I do not know what you are.” He says causing Revali to make a disgruntled noise.

“Excuse me? Have you never met a Rito-”

“No,” Zant says, cutting Revali off. “It does not matter either.”

Zant stretches his hands out in front of him studying them, he stretches his neck and surveys the room.

“Interesting, I wonder how this came to be.” Zant turns back to the group, “Still, I would be a fool to waste an opportunity when it’s presented. That annoying imp has yet to show, is she not here?”

“Imp? Midna?” Link questions.

“Oh do tell me she isn’t, this will be far easier if she isn’t.”

“She warned us of you,” Link signs.

“Mmm, that’s disappointing so she is still around. Well! She’s not here right now and it’s been so long since I’ve felt this amount of magic thrumming through me.”

Before anyone can react quick enough there is a ball of what seems to be pure darkness in Zant’s hand and he tosses it high into the air. When the darkness that had overtaken the room clears Zant is gone. The twilight that appeared before him though is still present.

“That is Zant? How has he never seen a Rito? And what was that helmet? Why is it so dark?” Revali grouses.

“It’s… twilight… but it was just morning? Is it still morning? Or is it just late noon now? Did he change the time? Or just how it looks?”

Link looks back and forth between Revali and Zelda and then just shrugs. “Midna says I’ve met him before but-” Link shrugs again. “What now?”

“Let’s just head to Zora’s Domain for now we still need to meet up with the others again,” Zelda says, starting to skirt around the hole to leave.

Link nods and begins to follow her pretending not to notice how Revali squints around the room now.

“Is that why it appears to be evening now?” Urbosa asks, tapping her chin.

“Probably? I dunno like I said I didn’t actually speak to Midna directly but given what Link and Zelda said… probably?” Daruk shrugs and peers out the window to the darkened sky.

“It is only noon, right? How do we know that time didn’t like speed up or something?” Riju asks, also leaning to look at the sky.

“We don’t or at least not yet. Presumably, night will still happen at a normal time so if that happens a few hours from now then we know that it’s some sort of ever-present twilight-”

“As opposed to time having been fast-forwarded and night happening sooner,” Riju says, finishing Urbosa’s thought. 

“Exactly,” Urbosa turns back to Daruk. “You said Zelda asked that we meet at Zora’s domain?”

“Yup, they went to the Castle and are gonna meet us there,” Daruk says nodding.

“Well, it’d do us no good to set out now so we’ll leave in the morning.”

“So you are leaving then?” Riju speaks up, making Urbosa turn to her.

“I’m sorry I have to but I won’t take too long alright?”

Riju purses her lips but shakes her head. “No, I understand you’ve not seen them in so long, do say ‘Hi’ to Link for me though.”

“I will, and I trust that you’ll take care of things here.”

“I’m gonna go,” Daruk says suddenly, looking between the two. He seems discomforted by them for some reason. “‘Bosa I’ll see you in the morning.”

Urbosa nods and watches as Daruk leaves, “ I do hate to have to leave so soon.”

“Is there a reason they aren’t coming here?” Riju asks.

“I would imagine the heat is the leading factor but also probably the distance.”

“Oh… right,” Riju nods. “Have they ever come out here?”

“Once, and then Revali and Link got themselves in trouble and I had to bail them out.”

Riju laughs, “I’d like to meet him and the others however I guess now isn’t exactly the right time.”

“I’ll pass the message along and I’m sure you will eventually.”

“You’ll be safe?”

“Of course, I will little tempest.”

Chapter Text

Mipha finds Link in the shop buying almost everything on display, she watches him talk with the vendor after stashing everything away. It was still a little strange to see him again after everything, even stranger still to see how he acted. Watching after him while she was a spirit didn’t give her a lot of opportunities to see how he had changed and during his time aboard Vah Ruta she had been hard-pressed to take back control. Now though as she observed him around the domain he seemed less weighed down than she had grown used to. Mipha jumps a bit when Link finally turns away from the vendor and spots her. He waves a greeting.

“Hello, do you have a moment?”

“Yeah, is there something you need help with?” Link asks as they leave the shop.

“No no,” Mipha shakes her head. “I just wanted to talk if that's alright.” 

Link nods and the pair take their leave from the shop crossing the bridges of the domain to find a spot by a pond.

As they sit Mipha tries to pretend she can't feel the mild tension growing. There truly was nothing wrong but this conversation was definitely going to be a… conversation. She stares at the water trying to figure out where to start, it was hard picking a point since she didn't know the extent of what Link remembered. Still, it was better to talk about this sooner rather than later. Mipha startles when there's a gentle tap on her shoulder and she turns to see Link tilting his head.

“Right, sorry I'm just trying to gather my thoughts for a moment this… a little more difficult to navigate than I thought.” 

“What are we navigating?” Link asks.

“That is an excellent question,” Mipha is quiet for a moment longer. “Do you remember when I yelled at you that should you find my diary you may not read it?” 

“...Yes,” Link looks pointedly at the water.

“You did anyway?”

“I- I didn't do it with the intention of prying I just wanted to, I don't know I was hoping that maybe it'd help me remember more or if it didn't I would at least know more about you all and to be fair Urbosa actually told me to find-”

“I'm not mad,” Mipha says, cutting Link off. “The others had diaries as well?”

“Yeah, well technically Revali was very adamant that it's not his but,” Link shrugs.

“Sounds like him, anyway like I said I'm not mad.” Mipha takes a breath, “it makes this a little easier actually. I poured my heart into those pages and- well surely you've realized that I had also intended to ask to share my heart with you as well?” 

Link doesn't respond for a few moments watching a frog in the water. “Why didn't you give me the armor that day?” 

“I was too nervous, afraid that you would reject me.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Whatever for?”

“I don't know how I would have answered if you did. I know I cared about you but beyond that…”

“It's alright I understand of course. Truthfully thinking about it now perhaps I was being a little silly,” Mipha says, sighing a bit.

“What do you mean?”

“A hundred years is a long time to think about things even if a lot of it is spent fading in and out of consciousness. I'm not sure you would've accepted, I could be wrong but I think there was someone else.”

“I don't know about that but… well I don't think I would've accepted even if there wasn't and I did…” Link pauses a bit. “Want to, it was a difficult time for everybody and I get the feeling I would have asked to deal with the whole evil that is about to awaken first before anything else.”

Mipha nods, “that's actually a very fair point, I hadn't considered that.”

The pair lapses into a silence that's only broken by the water and frogs and it's a long few moments before there's a gentle tap on Mipha's arm.

“Do you want the armor back?”

“No, no that's alright I'm sure you'll find good uses for it.” 

Link shrugs, “maybe, hopefully not anything as serious as having to board Vah Ruta.”

“I mean, hopefully not no but with this Twilight…”

“Right,” the easy look falls from Link's face. “I'll take care of it though and before we know it everything will be fine again.”

“You mean we'll take care of it. You have people who can help you Link and I'm sure the others also share the sentiment that this time we will be of more help.”

“Don't say that, everyone did the best they could, and even after you continued to help.” Link thinks for a moment, “I am sorry about what you had to witness.”

“You are… so incredibly reckless, you know that right?”

“I will try not to be as much?” Link signs with a sheepish look.

“I am not sure I believe you but please do try, you no longer have me at a moment's notice.”

Link nods and Mipha stands. “Thank you for speaking with me Link, I’ll see you later?”

With another nod from Link Mipha takes her leave heading back into the domain.

The next few days Revali observes the domain and those in it. Admittedly he never spent much time away from Rito village before becoming a champion and even then he was traveling with an explicit purpose. Technically this wasn’t a vacation either but as the group waits for Urbosa and Daruk he finds free time on his hands. Revali trained, naturally, trying to become more accustomed to the gloomy twilight that now covered the land. 

It wasn’t terrible Revali supposed but it definitely wasn’t optimal. He sparred with Link once (familiar, sad) and Sidon as well that was… not terrifying Revali was not scared just caught off guard. Mistakenly he thought zoras wouldn’t be that fast on land much less one of Sidon’s size. It ended in Revali being very sore but a winner when he got dragged to the ground and Sidon thought that because his bow was knocked away he was unarmed. The dagger Revali carried was more for uses outside of combat but knowing how to use it in combat certainly helped. 

He regarded the gash in his leg from getting hit with a rock when he hit the ground, it wasn’t all that deep and truthfully Revali didn’t really mind it. In a strange way it felt nice to be reminded he was alive again. Sidon had been incredibly apologetic about the accidental bloodshed and promptly raced off to get Mipha giving Revali strict orders to sit put. Revali had almost just taken off anyway but he did have some manners while visiting another's home, and if Sidon was anything like Mipha when he worried Revali didn’t want to see it. So he resolved himself to sit in the grass and wait. It wasn’t long before Revali spotted Mipha coming towards him, though her brother was missing. Mipha scanned over Revali after giving him a nod in greeting.

“Sidon was pulled away for business but he said that you could use some help?” Mipha asked, already sitting by Revali’s leg.

“It’s not bad, hardly anything to worry over.”

“Doesn’t look terrible no but why be hurt when there is help readily available? This won’t take long.”

Mipha doesn't give Revali a chance to protest as she gently sets about healing his leg. It’s not a sensation Revali was ever able to get used to, for the better he supposes and he can only recall one other time she helped him with it. The pair are quiet as she works it’s... sort of nice Revali thinks. Regrettably, Revali hadn’t made much of an effort to get to know his fellow champions and he realizes it now as he searches for something to say.

“Is it weird?” Is what he settles on.

“Being alive you mean? Yes it is a little but also who are we to waste a gift like this.”

“A gift, right.”

“It’s certainly a miracle if nothing else,” Mipha says as she finishes healing him. “But yes, a gift is how I see it at least.”

“I suppose you certainly have a reason to,” Revali doesn’t mean to sound so bitter but it’s said before he can think not to.

“...You are happy to be back are you not?”

“Of course I am, I simply mean that you had more to come back to than I so it makes sense that you would see this as a gift.” Revali feels as though he is saying too much. This isn’t something he wants to think about, much less talk about.

“Oh,” Mipha’s face falls. “Right, I hadn’t thought about... I’m sorry.”

Revali shakes his head, “Don’t be it’s fine.”

Graciously Mipha drops the subject though Revali suspects that she doesn’t want to. It might come back up later but maybe then he’ll know exactly how he feels about it. He shoos the thoughts away and looks at his healed leg.

“There is something,” he ventures. “That I wanted to ask about.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Are you familiar with… persisting pain? Whether personally or helping with it or… just well anything to do with it?” Revali should have thought about how to go about this more before he started talking. He swallows, pointedly not looking at Mipha.

“I am, there’s a few different reasons someone may experience chronic pain, whether it’s something genetic and born with or…” This time Revali can see Mipha swallow and her next words are quieter. “Because of a bad injury.”

“Right,” Revali looks away again. “I am correct that it’s not something that can be healed right? Hence… it being chronic.”

“You’re correct, it can be managed of course and the overall pain lessened occasionally.” Mipha is looking at Revali with something too close to pity. “Where is it?” She asks quietly.

“My shoulders and back… at first I thought it was just because I hadn’t flown in so long but it comes and goes and it’s just-“

“Persistent?” Mipha supplies, “My legs and hips ache the same way.” She frowns fiddling with some grass. “I suspect our bodies aren’t exactly in the best of shape anymore.”

Revali watches the way she plucks at the grass. “Do you still think this still a gift?”

“I think it’s a fair price to live again.”

“Well, we’ll simply have to train around it.”

“Why am I not surprised that’s your thought about it.” Mipha stands, “do be careful about pushing yourself too hard okay? You’ll make it worse if you do and I suspect you’ll be miserable should it get to an unmanageable point.”

Revali wants to brush her off as he stands but he knows that she’s right. Besides he was the one who wanted to have this conversation. Instead, he only nods. “Thank you, for your help with my leg.” It’s curt, and he feels he should know better than to revert back to this formality with her.

“Anytime,” Mipha smiles at him as they start back to the domain.

As they walk Revali thinks that while it’s not necessarily a gift like Mipha sees it, it is certainly an opportunity. And this time he’ll do better with trying to be friends with the others. This time he will not be losing