A/N: Updated on 1/12/2019.
"You okay, Mipha?" Daruk asked. Ever since she had woken up, the Zora had been eyeing their surroundings as though she were waiting for something bad to happen. At one point, Rhoam had accidentally struck his cooking pot with a ladle while making breakfast, which had caused the Zora to nearly leap out of her skin.
While the Zora wasn't exactly the most laid back, she was far from jumpy. Seeing even the smallest sounds cause her to tense up was definitely concerning to him. The Goron decided that he would give their surroundings a glance of his own. Nothing in the thin line of trees that lined the clearing that Rhoam's hut resided in warranted his attention. No, aside from the ramshackle hut, it's sparse furnishings consisting largely of stone and tree stumps, and the assortment of tools littered across the ground, there wasn't really anything worth taking note of.
"I don't know…" As he turned back to his younger companion, he found that she had folded her hands in her lap, her shoulders rising and falling as she took deep breaths.
He stroked his unkempt beard as he as he continued watching his paranoid friend. He couldn't see anything in their surroundings that would make her nervous. There was only one conclusion he could come to. "Is it Link and Revali?"
He was fairly certain that wasn't the problem. She had been understandably worried the night before, but she hadn't been jumpy. Now, the slightest sounds were able to set her off. He supposed that sleeping on the matter might have made it more difficult to cope with.
"No. It feels like… "
"Like an unseen enemy is poised to strike at any moment?" Rhoam offered as he spooned food into a dish for the Zora and himself.
"I suppose."
"I feel it too," the old man replied as he sat across from them. "Tonight will be a particularly unlucky night."
"What does that mean?"
"You said that Lady Urbosa had gone out to do some scouting, correct?"
"Yeah." Daruk was not entirely pleased that his question had just been ignored. Once again, the old Hylian had some knowledge of something beyond them, yet he refused to share. Instead, he deflected entirely, and likely wouldn't answer until it best suited him, even if that endangered Daruk and his companions.
"Do you know when she will return?"
"No." The Goron didn't consider himself to be rude, but he was tired of answering questions but having few to none of his answered in return. Rhoam focused on him, as though sensing his frustrations.
"When she returns, I will explain as best I can, and then we must prepare for the night ahead."
"Is something dangerous going to happen?"
"Yes."
The Goron leaned forward, searching the man for anything that might tell him what was about to happen, but everything in the man's countenance was as forthcoming as his words.
"Can you warn the other two?"
"Hmm?"
"You've got a habit of showing up before things go sideways. Do you think you can do that again and warn Link and Revali?"
"If today were a normal day, then I could. On nights such as this, my power is severely limited."
"What does that mean?"
"Surely, by now, you have guessed that I am no ordinary man," Rhoam sighed.
"Link mentioned that he didn't think you were actually a Hylian, but I didn't think anything of it," Daruk replied quietly. He had no idea what Link had meant when he'd said that, and he didn't really care to know. Even though he had no memories to go off, he was pretty sure he wasn't someone who understood the subtleties of thoughts like that.
"I assure you that I am indeed a Hylian, just not an ordinary one."
"Are you a spirit?" Mipha asked quietly.
"Huh?!" The Goron had no idea where the question had come from, or what it meant, even.
"W-well, it would explain some things," Mipha clarified nervously. "Like how you survived up here with monsters roaming around, or how you keep appearing no matter where we are. It can even explain how you beat Revali to the top of the tower.
"That's still a little out there," Daruk replied.
Oddly enough, Rhoam had remained completely silent during the exchange, gazing at Mipha thoughtfully.
"Right?" Daruk asked.
"Your father always told me you were intelligent, but I suppose I never realized just how true that is," the man said quietly.
The Goron was utterly lost. While the conversation had made some jumps he didn't entirely understand, he was able to get the gist of it. Now though, he had absolutely no clue what either one was saying. "I don't get it."
"Mipha is correct. I am indeed a spirit," Rhoam replied patiently. "Now then," he continued as they heard someone approaching, "we should talk about how to ensure that you three survive the night."
Revali did his best to ignore his silent companion as the platform they stood on descended into the lower levels of the shrine. While he couldn't say he was thrilled by the fact that he had to travel with Link, he could at least find some satisfaction in some of the Hylian's skills and habits. When he had awoken, Link had been in the midst of cleaning up the camp. In the time it had taken the Rito to rise and give himself a quick preening, the Hylian had finished cleaning up and was distracting himself with the Sheikah Slate.
Even though he hated to admit it, he couldn't deny that Link also had talents as a cook. If nothing else, he had assured that he would be eating well for the duration of their quest. As an added bonus, Link had also proven that he was more than content to keep himself busy.
After what felt like an eternity, their descent came to a stop. Revali stepped off glowing platform quickly, looking around the wide chamber he was in. Unlike the last two shrines, there were no walls obstructing his view of the entire shrine, meaning he could see the monk's mummified form from where he was. Unlike the normal, immobile obstacles, they had to work past a variety of rolling objects, rotating platforms, and moving floors. With nothing keeping him from flying above the puzzles, he saw no reason that he couldn't just skip the puzzles entirely. While he had a feeling that the monk wouldn't unlock the rune until the puzzles had been solved, he didn't see any reason to subject himself to it.
"Well, I see no reason that you can't handle this on your own," he announced as he spread his wings. "Do try to be quick about it."
He flapped his wings, pushing him off the ground and away from Link. He hadn't expected the Hylian to call after him as he left, and so he wasn't surprised when the Hylian didn't. He flew over rotating platforms, inclined paths, and other moving obstacles before landing on the platform that was occupied by the Shrine's monk.
In both previous shrines, the monks had spoken to each member of the party in the confines of their own mind, with each receiving a slightly different message. This time, however, the monk remained silent as Revali approached his dais. The Rito wasn't particularly bothered by this as even if the monk had spoken to him, he would have still had to wait for Link.
The Rito turned back, watching his Hylian companion move through the puzzles. Link was making his way towards a rotating platform, which got a chuckle from Revali. The speed with which the platform was rotating dictated that Link would only make it about halfway before the surface he was on flipped over and sent the Hylian tumbling down. The only conceivable solution, as far as he was concerned, was for the newly acquired rune to somehow make either Link or the platform adhesive. He supposed that it was an incorrect assumption seeing as another obstacle involved a massive stone sphere rolling down an inclined path. His musings were cut short as the platform suddenly froze in place.
He stared, flabbergasted as Link sprinted across the now still walkway.
"Yes," an ancient voice rasped, echoing through his mind, "the Slate is capable of freezing objects in time. This you would have known had you remained by your ally's side rather than abandoning him to his own devices."
"I didn't abandon him!" the Rito snapped as he whirled back to the mummified monk.
"You left him behind and became a bystander."
"I –" He cut himself off as he became certain of two things. The first was that no matter what he said, the monk would remain unconvinced. The second, the one that infuriated him, was that he knew that the monk was actually right.
"Do not misunderstand; I take no joy in this, but you must know the truth. If you cannot fight by your allies' sides, then Hyrule is already lost."
Revali looked away, turning back to watch as Link continued making his way through the obstacles still in his way. When the Hylian reached the ramp, he aimed the Slate at the ball and froze it in place, sprinting up the path and diving to the side just before the sphere broke the spell and rolled down.
Neither the Rito nor the monk had anything else to say to each other as Link finally reached them. Revali watched as the Hylian approached the monk, tilting his head as the monk said something that only he could hear. After a few moments, the monk disintegrated just like his predecessors, leaving the Hylian and the Rito alone.
Link turned towards Revali, staring at him silently for a minute. "What did he say?" Revali asked quietly. He had a feeling that the monk had praised him for being a good little boy who had soldiered on despite being "abandoned."
The Hylian stared at him uncomprehendingly for a moment, annoying Revali even further.
"What did he say?" Revali asked again, this time far louder as he took a step towards Link.
"Same as the others," Link replied with a shrug.
"Right." He didn't believe it for a second, but it seemed like Link was going to be tight-lipped about the whole affair. They stood there for a few more moments before Revali finally snapped. "What? Not sure what to do without Daruk or Urbosa here to tell you what to do?"
The Hylian answered by staring impassively.
"Well here's a hint: let's get back to the elevator and get out of here!"
Wordlessly, Link turned back the way they had come and started the long walk back to the entrance. Revali glared after him for a few seconds before propelling him back into the air above. As far as he was concerned, he wasn't the real problem in this dynamic.
Urbosa watched Rhoam out of the corner of her eye. She didn't feel physically threatened by the man, but rather, she was curious. The group had decided to split up in order to gather materials and prepare for whatever the night had in store for them. The odd thing was, Rhoam had specifically invited her to partner up with him, despite her obvious disdain for him. The Gerudo wanted to know why, but she had no doubt that Rhoam would remain true to form and evade every question that was posed to him. To make matters even more complicated, Mipha had informed her that Rhoam had admitted to being a spirit. It seemed that every answer brought even more questions.
"What is it you wish to know?" Rhoam grunted as he knelt down and gathered sticks, lining them up neatly into a pile.
"Hmm?"
"There are things you wish to know," the man answered evenly, not looking up from his task as he continued speaking. "Why do you think I suggested that we work together?"
Urbosa didn't answer immediately, deciding that it was better to weigh her options carefully. While there were many questions she wanted to ask, there were some that were more pertinent than others. "Why help us?"
The old man paused as he was binding the bundle he had created together, sighing as he leaned back and looked into the distance. "That monster you saw flying around the castle. Do you remember it?"
The Gerudo arched an eyebrow. She didn't know how he could even think she may have forgotten what she had seen atop the tower. "You mean Ganon?"
"Indeed," Rhoam answered as he turned his attention back to the ground, resuming his task. "When the dark beast first attacked, it took nearly everything from me," he said darkly, yanking the knot a bit tighter than was strictly necessary. "My home, my people, my dignity… gone. There is only one thing that was not stolen from me."
Despite her surprise at receiving any form of an answer, Urbosa listened patiently. She had not yet received the answers she sought, but she was not so merciless as to push the old man through what was clearly an unpleasant recollection.
"My daughter survived Ganon's assault and is alive to this day…" Rhoam picked up the bundle, setting it on his shoulder as he stood up and met her eyes again. "Why am I so invested in helping you and your friends? The answer is simple. You five are her best chance at surviving."
"… It would seem that I owe you an apology." She had always assumed that Rhoam wasn't acting on mere altruism, but she hadn't suspected that his ulterior motives to be that of a father desiring to protect his child.
"You weren't wrong about me," Rhoam replied with something approaching a chuckle as he set the bundle of wood down next to a tree.
The Gerudo remained silent as the old man knelt back down and started collecting sticks again.
"I failed her, you know," he said tiredly. There was no anger or bitterness in his voice, only a deep sorrow. "During our time together, I led her to believe that her only value was in what she was unable to accomplish. I never took the opportunity to tell her how much I love her…" Rhoam trailed off as his eyes lost focus again. He continued staring off for several seconds before coming back to reality. "I know that aiding all of you won't be enough to atone for all of the wrong I have done, but maybe it can be a start."
For the first time since she had met him, she felt compassion for the old man. Something about his words had been too heartfelt, too genuine to be a lie. While her understanding of the situation was limited, she could be sympathetic at the very least.
"I have a favor to ask of you," Rhoam stated as he completed another bundle.
"Yes?" She still didn't trust him entirely, but it couldn't hurt to hear his request.
"My daughter looked to you as a mother figure of sorts when she was younger. I know that she likely will not have need of such a figure now, but she will still need friends she can rely upon. Can I rely on you to stand beside her when the time comes?"
The Gerudo frowned at him. Though he was right to assume that his daughter likely no longer had need of a mother-figure, she found it odd that he was suggesting she didn't already have a support system. If she had somehow survived in a broken world for a century, then she likely wasn't in need of anyone's help, especially not an amnesiac who didn't have the slightest clue as to who she was. "What makes you think she needs my help?"
"I think that is an answer best given to both you and your friends," Rhoam replied quietly. "I think that is enough conversation for the time being. The day is passing us by and we have only just begun preparing for the ordeal ahead of us."
"And what exactly is this 'ordeal?' You've done a marvelous job of talking about it without actually telling us what it is."
"In due time."
Urbosa sighed as she rubbed her temple. It seemed that the old man's willingness to share what he knew had been a temporary change, and now he was back to either speaking in riddles or evading questions entirely.
"I know you're frustrated," Rhoam said as he completed yet another bundle, "but believe me when I tell you that I am not trying to upset you. I just need to be sure before I tell you what I can."
"Sure of what?"
"Sure that neither you nor any of the others will do something foolish. I wasn't certain what frame of mind you would be in when you awoke, so I chose to wait and see what had become of you."
"Very well." She was still frustrated with him, but she also realized she needed to be patient. Whether or not Rhoam told them what was going on, she would find out. The only difference was how easy it was for her to find the answers she sought.
"This reminds me of old times," the old man chuckled as he collected the bundles and stood tall.
"Does it?" Urbosa asked absently as she started picking apples from a nearby tree. The Gerudo realized it was a bit late to join in, seeing as Rhoam was ready to be on his way. She would just have to hope that Mipha had been less absent-minded than she had.
"Before the Great Calamity – the day Hyrule fell," he said, answering her unasked question, "- we had a rather terse relationship."
"Is that so? Apparently, I didn't train you well enough if this is how you treat a lady."
Rhoam roared his laughter, nearly dropping the bundles he was carrying as he bent over. "Ah! There was a time when you watched your tone and your words much more carefully when you were around me."
"I really didn't train you well."
"No, you did not," he replied as he wiped a tear from his eye. "Hylia above, I could have used some proper house training."
"I don't think it's too late to start," she muttered dryly. She couldn't claim to be any fonder of him than she had been before the conversation, but something had changed between the two. At least now she could tease him just a bit. Especially if he was going to be mouthy.
"I have heard that older women are the harshest trainers, so think I will pass, but thank you for the offer."
"What was that about my age?!"
"Really, Lady Urbosa, it is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone grows old as time passes." Before Urbosa could respond, Rhoam turned around, chest heaving with suppressed laughter as he left the seething woman behind.
Link sat, silently eating as he reflected on his Rito companion. While he had been his usual unpleasant self, or what Link believed to be his usual self, he had become even more disparaging after the completion of the shrine. This struck the Hylian as odd seeing as, in his opinion, he was the one with reason to be upset. Instead, he was almost led to believe that he had been the one to do something wrong.
If he wasn't so laid back, he probably would have lashed out in frustration. Being calmer than that, he decided his best approach was to be silent and let Revali sulk. He had already tried engaging the Rito in conversation but had been quickly and aggressively rebuffed.
Strangely enough, it almost struck the Hylian as though Revali couldn't decide who he was really mad at. When listening to the Rito's grumblings, Link found they would be directed at himself as often as they were to the monk. Occasionally, even Daruk was mentioned in the quiet fuming.
While they hadn't been terribly amicable upon waking, Revali had at least been something akin to civil. Now, though, he was quite possibly the most upset that he had been yet. Any interaction with him, even so much as an offhand glance, was enough to set him off, which was unusual, to say the least. He was far from pleasant much of the time, but, until now, he had kept his condescension under the guise of politeness. It may have been a poor disguise, but it struck Link as at least putting forth some effort to work with the rest of them. As such, he found himself more concerned with the fact that Revali was clearly struggling with something than he was with any aggression that was lobbed at him. Unfortunately, there was very little he could do outside of giving the Rito space.
The thing that bothered him wasn't the fact that leaving Revali alone was the best option, but rather, it was the only viable one. The fact that isolating himself from the Rito illustrated just how little control he actually had in the situation as well as how poor their comradery really was. It wasn't necessarily that he needed to be in absolute control, rather, he felt more at ease when he had several viable options to choose from. It left him feeling that the path he wound up choosing was the best of the bunch. When he was faced with only one debatably good choice and a multitude of bad options, he felt like he was settling on the least negative solution rather than truly making the best call.
He really didn't like it.
"So… the Slate can freeze things in time?" Revali asked, sounding like he regretted saying anything at all.
Link confirmed it with a nod. "Want to practice?"
"Thanks, but I'll leave the toying around to you."
Link tilted his head at the response. If Revali was returning to his poorly veiled jabs, then maybe he was working through whatever it was that was bothering him. That left him a little more at ease. While he there was still nothing he could do, at least he wouldn't feel quite as helpless about the entire situation. He found it odd that he was relieved to find that someone was looking down on him, but he supposed that it wasn't the strangest thing that had happened.
The duo continued their meal in silence before clearing up and moving on, with neither saying anything to the other. Link couldn't help but think it was going to be a long day.
"You still haven't told us what it is we are preparing for," Urbosa called nonchalantly from behind Mipha as they followed a thin trail carved by the wildlife of the Plateau. Unfortunately, this meant that Daruk was having some difficulty navigating the narrow path. On the bright side, the Goron was still in high spirits, much to Mipha's surprise. Despite the fact that Urbosa had been irritated all day, Rhoam had been dancing around what they were preparing for, and her own irrational paranoia, Daruk had remained amazingly upbeat. It was something she appreciated greatly, as Urbosa and Rhoam's behavior had only added to her stress. The Goron's attitude, however, had been her lifeline, keeping her from falling into a panic attack.
"Once we reach the cave, I will explain everything," Rhoam replied over his shoulder.
"Of course, you will," the Gerudo grumbled. "How are you holding up?"
Mipha glanced over her shoulder, finding that the older woman was gazing at her, clearly expecting an answer from her. "I am… okay. I keep jumping at the slightest sounds and I just can't help but wait for an attack that I am not sure is coming. I just feel so… ridiculous," she murmured. What kind of warrior couldn't keep her calm or jumped when someone spoke suddenly? What warrior was so paranoid that she couldn't go two minutes without looking over her shoulder for an enemy that wasn't there? The Zora couldn't help but feel that she was quickly becoming more and more of a hindrance as the days passed.
"Remember when I told you to have some more confidence in yourself?"
"I do."
"This is what I was talking about," Urbosa explained just loudly enough for her to hear. "Regardless of how little he has actually explained, Rhoam has told us that something is going to happen tonight. How else would we have known that we were in danger?"
"Perhaps the voice we keep hearing," Mipha replied just as quietly. "She has offered us some guidance before."
"Maybe," Urbosa conceded. "However, is that guaranteed? Remember, there have been some things she hasn't warned us about. For instance, when we were ambushed."
"This is true." Now that Mipha thought about it, there had been a few times where they could have benefited from her guidance, yet she had been silent. Perhaps she had known about their potential as fighters and had no doubts that they could adequately handle such an attack, or maybe there were limits to her power that they simply didn't know.
"You might have been the only warning we had."
"But I don't even know what is going on."
"You don't have to. The fact that you feel the way you do would be enough of a warning. I've seen you worried, but I haven't seen you like this. It's a large part of the reason that I believe Rhoam is telling the truth."
Mipha reflected on that silently. She supposed that it was true that the worry she showed when one of her companions was injured was quite different than what she had been experiencing throughout the day. Even when she had found Link and Revali in their pitiable state after Daruk had knocked them together, the Zora had easily been able to maintain a calm and level-headed line of thinking. Now though, it was a struggle to not give into the pit of worry that had been gnawing at her ceaselessly since her eyes had cracked open that morning.
"Remember, it is better to look the fool who was prepared than to be the fool who wasn't."
"I will try to remember."
"Now, that doesn't mean you should go and do something ridiculous like assuming that Link will always carry you whenever climbing is necessary," Urbosa continued as she hooked a finger on her chin.
"I'm sorry?"
"I think you know what I'm referring to," she answered playfully. "You were quite content to allow him to haul you around."
"It wasn't like that!" Mipha spluttered quickly, causing both Rhoam and Daruk to pause and look at her over their shoulders, furthering her embarrassment.
"No need to get so defensive. I'll freely admit I was a bit jealous myself."
The Zora briefly wondered if mortification was enough to kill someone. She supposed it wasn't far from the realm of possibility seeing as her face burned feverishly and she seemed unable to form any coherent thought other than "h-huh?"
"Well, as we discussed earlier, he is rather dashing. And, considering how polite and helpful he is, I would think he is fine material for a husband." The Gerudo winked at her as she continued, "but I suppose I don't need to tell you of all people that."
Mipha no longer wondered if sheer embarrassment was enough to kill her and had become certain of it. To make matters worse, she found herself entertaining the idea despite her reservations. It wasn't something she had stopped to consider before, as there were more important things to worry about. In fact, there were probably even more things to be worried about, yet she found that she couldn't quite rid herself of such a superfluous thought.
Why did Urbosa have to be the way she was?
"Oh, calm down," Urbosa laughed as she flung an arm over Mipha's shoulder. "Am I not allowed to tease you a bit?"
"Uh…"
"We're here," Rhoam called, ending the conversation before the Zora was subjected to anything else. They all gathered around the old man, who gestured to a cave resting in the cliffside behind them. "So, as you know, nights such as this are particularly unholy."
"What does that mean?" Daruk asked before Urbosa had the chance to make any comment. Though the Gerudo had returned with a more lenient outlook on Rhoam after their private conversation, she still wasn't shy about starting a diatribe against him.
"On nights such as these, monsters become nigh immortal until the moon reaches its zenith," Rhoam explained, all traces of his typical, pleasant smile was gone. His wrinkles only deepened as he continued his explanation, "they can be stopped by destroying their skulls, but only for a time. Eventually, though, their bodies will be repaired, allowing them to start their pursuit again."
"So, we just need to keep knocking 'em out? Sounds simple enough." Despite just being told that they wouldn't be able to end the threat entirely, Daruk still sounded confident.
"If only it were that simple," Rhoam replied. "The Blood Moon will also resurrect monsters who have previously died as well. If we were to stay in the open, you would be overwhelmed before the moon's power fades away."
"So, what do you have in mind?" Urbosa asked tightly. So far, Mipha found that she was not overly fond of confrontation or other forms of conflict, but she did have to agree with the Gerudo's implied frustrations. The fact that they would presumably be fighting an unkillable army made up of both living and nonliving combatants was a dangerous bit of information to keep from them.
"We can take shelter in this cave," Rhoam answered as he gestured towards the opening in the cliffside behind him. "We'll block the entrance to limit how many monsters you have to handle."
"Then we best get to work," Urbosa replied as she and Rhoam exchanged a look. A look that Mipha couldn't decipher. The Gerudo had been his harshest critic since they had met him, yet there was some sort of silent understanding between them. She might have thought they had made amends during their earlier excursion, but she would have sworn that the tension was still there when they had returned. Then again, the Zora reasoned that with all of the stress she had been trying to cope with that day, it was possible she had missed something. Ultimately, the conclusion she reached was that it was a question for later as there were far more important things to worry about.
"Right." Rhoam motioned towards a nearby boulder, "Daruk, if you would."
Mipha followed the old man and the Gerudo quickly as the Goron began pulling the boulder towards the entrance. Again, she found herself battling the anxiety that wormed its way through her as Rhoam provided her a bundle of wood to light one of the many fires they would be using to light up the caverns. She could only hope that it would all end quickly.
There was nothing quite like flying. Even though there wasn't much to see below other than stone and sparse plant life, Revali still found it gratifying to see it crawling below him as Link walked along at a brisk pace. Earlier that day, he might have grown impatient with the Hylian's comparatively slow pace. As it was, he could at least appreciate the extra time in the skies. Unfortunately, the reds and oranges that tinted the sky made it difficult to appreciate the sight of the land below.
Ever since his conversation with the monk, he had been in a foul mood. While the Rito could admit that he may not have been the best team player so far, but he wasn't the only problem. Link clearly had some issue with him, what with the way the Hylian had barely acknowledged him from the beginning. As far as Revali was concerned, if Link had an issue with him, he should confront the Rito directly rather than reacting pettily by ignoring him almost entirely. If the Hylian was being honest when he said that the monk had said something similar to the previous two, then the monk's words to Revali had gone from critical to insulting. Why would he be lectured while Link got a free pass?
He supposed that if that had been an isolated incident, it might not have bothered him so much; however, he had been receiving such attacks on his character over the past few days. Daruk, Urbosa, and Rhoam had each taken their shots at him, but Urbosa was the worst by far. She had the nerve to criticize him for being acerbic, yet she had no problem commenting on some of the same things he had been thinking. He supposed Daruk's remarks didn't bother him overly much as the Goron held himself to his own standards, which was something that Revali found respectable. He didn't necessarily agree with Daruk's ideas, but it said something that Daruk didn't hold double standards.
His thoughts were interrupted by a nagging voice in the back of his head. Heeding its warning, he broke out of the confines of his mind and looked down below. While he could see to the edge of the Plateau and beyond, there was nothing that jumped out at him as wrong. Aside from the fact that Link had stopped in his tracks and was watching the horizon, there was nothing else that stood out to him. He was a bit surprised to see a harsh red light overtaking the land and sky, but he chalked it up to his respective angle to the sun. The more he thought about it, however, more he became convinced that it was unnatural, prompting the Rito to look at the horizon, which nearly caused him to fall out of the sky.
At some point, the sun had disappeared beneath the horizon, being replaced by a large, blood-red moon climbing its way towards the top of the sky.
"Revali…" The voice was calling to him again. This time she spoke with an urgency he hadn't yet heard. "Be on your guard. Ganon's power peaks under the Blood Moon and under its blighted gaze, monsters who have met their end rise once again to tear at the light. Please be careful Revali…"
His gaze shifted downwards as he tried to understand what she was trying to tell him, but he had no time to reach any conclusions as he saw Link sprinting along. He dove down, flying just within earshot of the Hylian. "What's going on?!"
"Fly higher!" Link shouted back.
Revali was about to make a retort when he finally noticed what had caused Link to start his mad dash. The ground all around the Hylian was writhing, and he could just make out what looked to be hands made entirely of bone scrabbling to find purchase as their attached bodies followed them out of the earth. Misshapen, skeletal bodies rose up, wielding weapons that appeared to be made from their bones. Normally, such a sight would have been unnerving enough on its own, but under the deadened, red light that cast unnatural shadows across the land, it was enough to get his adrenaline pumping.
Acting before considering all of his options, Revali descended a bit further, drawing his bow and an arrow.
"Fly higher!" Link shouted again as the Rito let loose an arrow, impaling one of the undead in the skull. It stumbled but refused to fall as it reached up and ripped the arrow out. Despite how ineffective the attack was, he drew another arrow, but he didn't even have a chance to nock it as he felt something tear through his right wing.
The piercing of a bone arrow was enough to unbalance him, but the pain of it combined with the fact that he only had one wing was what brought him crashing to the ground. Revali's vision swam as he collided painfully with the ground, knocking the air clean out of him. His chest heave as fought desperately to regain his breath as he rolled on to his back, only to find one of the creatures staring down at him.
He glared back defiantly as it raised its weapon over its head. He didn't want to die, but if he had to, he wasn't going to go out begging, screaming, or trying to deny it by closing his eyes. He wasn't interested in giving the mindless beast any sort of satisfaction, nor did want to make a coward of himself. No, instead he would face his death head-on just as he thought a warrior should.
To his confusion the, skeleton remained frozen until a sword cut through its spine, causing its torso to fall to the earth as Link appeared behind it with sword and Slate in hand. Revali watched, wide-eyed as a boot crushed the skull of the creature that had just been standing over him. He watched, feeling the seeds of despair start flourishing within him as he watched the splintered bone start working their way back towards their source, rebuilding what had just been shattered. The Rito was unable to watch the process to completion as Link pulled him to his unsteady feet, throwing Revali's injured wing over his shoulder.
"Here!" Revali looked down, finding the unfamiliar weight in his hand to be a sword, but he barely had the time to form a grip as Link began dragging him onwards. Despite the vertigo and his lack of familiarity with a sword, the Rito swung it at anything and everything that got close. He wasn't making an effort for accuracy or to cause damage, rather, he was fighting desperately to drive away anything that came close to them. As his wits returned to him, he realized where Link had been taking them. A few dozen yards away was the shrine they had been making their way toward all day. Finally finding his balance, he got his feet properly under him and began running on his own.
Arrows rained down around them as the skeletons tried to close in. As he was formulating a plan to hold them off while Link opened the door, he heard a grunt as Link stumbled next to him, forcing Revali to catch him as his wing shrieked in pain. "No! No, you don't!" he snapped as he looked down, finding an arrow sticking out of Link's calf. "Don't you dare make me sit through another one of Daruk's lectures!" Despite the severity of their situation, Link grinned back at him. "Get that thing open! I'll hold them off!"
Link removed the Slate, but before he moved to open the shrine, he created a bomb and chucked it behind them both, blowing it up without even sparing a glance behind them. The Hylian limped quickly towards the pedestal as Revali turned back towards their pursuers. The bomb Link had detonated had shattered many of the nearest monsters behind them. Thankfully, this let Revali step forward and swing his sword haphazardly, knocking another of the creatures down. He was about to swing again when an arm wrapped around his midsection, drawing him back as both he and Link collapsed onto the platform that led deeper into the shrine.
The platform began its descent, leaving the two exhausted warriors to catch their breath. Revali tried to catch a glimpse of the inner structure to make sure that none of the undead were down there as well. Unfortunately, his body stopped responding to his commands, leaving him to lay there as the world went dark.
"Come on!" Daruk roared as he brought his fist down on another skeleton, causing it to splinter into millions of tiny shards.
"Is that really necessary?" Urbosa asked as stomped on a skull that had been trying to reform. As far as Daruk could tell, the Gerudo and Zora had developed the strategy of quickly disabling their share of the creatures, then kept them subdued by repeatedly crushing their skulls. He supposed that was all well and fine, but it looked rather boring as they would crush one, either with a foot or the butt of a spear, then move on to the next in a monotonous cycle that had been going on for a while now.
"It helps me stay pumped!" he replied as he smashed yet another opponent that had finally reformed.
"Do you see how slowly they reform?" Rhoam asked from his place next to the central fire. He had chosen a spot next to the largest fire, throwing in extra wood to keep it burning bright. He had also kept a trained eye on each of Mipha and Urbosa's opponents, calling out when some of them were coming dangerously close to rising back up. "We are close to the end now."
"Thank goodness," Mipha replied, sounding utterly exhausted, which was something Daruk could sympathize with. The young Zora had been under a massive amount of emotional strain, what with her worry over Link and Revali and whatever stress the Blood Moon had been causing her. She had tried to explain it to him, but it had largely gone over his head. That didn't mean he couldn't grasp the basics of what she was trying to tell him, which was that she was having a bad day. As a result, he had done his best to remain upbeat. It wasn't much, but he figured that keeping his own spirits up would help her - if only a little.
The disconnected conversations fell flat as the group continued on with their task of disabling their opponents. Eventually, what remained of the skeletons sunk back into the ground, leaving no trace that they had ever been there.
"Huh… that wasn't so bad." The way that Rhoam had been carrying on, he had assumed that they would have been in a lot more danger. Instead, they had been relatively safe after they had torn through the initial waves, not that he was really complaining. If he had to pick between making sure his friends were safe and a good fight, he'd choose the safety of his friends any day. While there were likely plenty of good fights to be found in the world around him, he doubted that he would find anyone quite like the people he had woken up with. Maybe it was an odd sentiment to have for people he barely knew, but he felt that way just the same and he didn't feel the need to sit down and consider why that was. It was what felt, and that was what was important.
"Something for which I am thankful," Rhoam groaned as he slumped, as though exhausted. "Days like this tend to wear on the nerves. I am not sure I could have handled anything more exciting than that."
"How often do these 'Blood Moons' rise?" Mipha asked as she set her weapon down and tended to her and Urbosa's wounds.
"That I cannot say. They are horribly inconsistent," the old man sighed. "They started about two or three years ago; however, as far as I can tell, they don't follow any pattern. Sometimes, they are separated by a few months. Sometimes, it is a few weeks. I spent a sizeable amount of time trying to determine a calendar for them in order to help you on your way, but I am afraid that you will be the only way to know," he finished as he gestured toward Mipha.
"Why is it that she could sense it?" Urbosa asked as Mipha set a scarlet palm over a gash in her arm. Daruk was glad that she asked, as he had wondered if there was something he had missed, but he was tired of asking what he thought might have been considered stupid questions. He thought the Gerudo was quite smart, and so, if she had to ask, then he could rest assured that the answer wasn't exactly clear.
"Hmm…" Rhoam's head tilted back as he stared up at the stone ceiling thoughtfully. "Zora are not only one of the longest-lived races in Hyrule, but easily the most pious as well. They still practice many, ancient religious rites dedicated to the Goddess. I suppose that Hylia may reward such observances with special blessings, but I cannot speak for the Goddess. Even if She doesn't afford them extra favors, they devote much of their time to spiritual pursuits."
"Could that be the source of my power?" Mipha asked as held up a hand.
"I doubt it. As I recall, you had your power from a young age. Far too young to have developed much of a spiritual life. Not only that, but your father once mentioned that there had never been another with your abilities in recorded history."
"Oh… I see."
Daruk frowned at the crestfallen look on Mipha's face. As he understood it, she had just been informed that she was one of a kind, which was something that he thought should be celebrated. Now though, she was disappointed upon hearing that no one else was quite like her. Then again, she was a very different person with different values.
"Don't worry. I am certain that you will have plenty of opportunities to learn about yourself," Rhoam offered. "I believe that many of your family and friends are still alive and will help you to remember."
"I hope so," the Zora responded, flashing the old man a grateful smile.
The Goron suddenly understood the issue. She was hoping that she could use others as a means to learn more about who she was. It was a thought process he could sympathize with as he was just as much of a mystery to himself as she would have been to herself. To him, though, having no memories was an opportunity to decide who he was without being dragged down by the past. Maybe he would learn things if and when his memories came back to him, but for the time being, he was free to make of himself what he would.
"You okay, Big Guy?"
Urbosa's question pulled him out of his reverie. "Yep! Just thinking is all!"
"Oh? About what?"
"Nothin' too important," he replied. The Goron might have explained his thoughts, however, he was feeling exhausted. Maybe the fight had taken more out of him than he thought. "Do ya think we should stay here for the night?"
"It may not be the most comfortable, but I think it may be for the best," Rhoam interjected. "Monsters are likely still roaming the Plateau in search of victims. It will be some time before their bloodlust is sated, relatively speaking. Get some rest. I will keep watch."
"Thanks," Daruk said before curling up. He was genuinely grateful that he wouldn't have a watch to keep that night. It made surrendering to his exhaustion that much more satisfying.
The first thing Revali felt was a throbbing in his right wing and a pounding in his head. The Rito groaned as his eyes snapped open, closing again almost immediately as his eyes were assaulted by the blue glow that painted the shrine's interior. Though the light within the shrine was nowhere near as harsh as sunlight, it was still too much for his eyes to be immediately exposed to. His eyes snapped shut, only to open again very slowly, bit by bit as he gave them time to adjust.
Upon being able to look around, the Rito found himself propped along the wall of a square room with a shallow pool of water across from him. Rising out of the pool was a tall pillar of ice that had leaned against a ledge that looked to lead deeper into the shrine. After processing the sight, he looked down to find his right wing tightly bound in a blood-soaked cloth. Other than that, the only other two objects of note were the pedestal that lacked its typical orange glow, and Link, who was propped on the wall much like Revali was.
"Wake up!" he resisted the urge to grimace at the sound of his own voice. Even that was too much for his ears to handle. Luckily, he wouldn't have to repeat himself as Link's eyes snapped open as soon as he spoke.
The Hylian blinked the sleep out of his eyes before turning his bleary eyes to Revali. He looked at the Rito for a few moments before some internal switch was flipped and he climbed to his feet. Without asking Revali's permission, he took the Rito's injured wing firmly by gently, inspecting the blood-soaked bandage. Working quickly and deftly, he untied the tourniquet and gestured to the pool behind him. "Go wash your wing."
While he had intended to let Link know exactly what he thought of the instructions he had just given, his thoughts were lost as blood rushed back into his wing. Revali bit back a groan as the throb in his appendage increased, temporarily dulling his senses. This was made worse as the Hylian grabbed his uninjured wing and hauled him to his feet. "I hate you…"
"Wash it or I will."
The Rito glared at him but acquiesced before Link could make good on his threat. He crossed the room and knelt by the pool, placing his wing in the water and carefully scrubbed the tender appendage as best he could. Even through his dark blue feathers, he could make out the mottled purples and red that surrounded the wound. As he removed his wing from the water and took a closer look, he could see a concerning trail of blood streaming from the freshly opened injury. He set his arm back in the water before he became stained by his own blood. His feathers were difficult enough to keep neat and tidy without having to clean dried blood out of them.
After a few minutes, Link appeared next to him with a mortar and pestle in hand, along with a few strips of cloth. The Hylian took a few plants he had been gathering, along with some of the water, and began simultaneously mixing and mashing them together.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a salve," Link replied, not looking up from the little bowl.
Revali narrowed his eyes. Of course, Link knew how to make a blasted medicinal salve out weeds that he had picked up along the way.
When he was satisfied with the contents of the bowl, he dipped two fingers into the salve and then, gripping Revali's wing with enough strength to prevent any movement, he gingerly applied the ointment. Revali's jaw clenched, suppressing a hiss at the sting that accompanied the cool substance. Without missing a beat, the Hylian grabbed one of the strips of cloth and began to bind the Rito's wing as tightly as he could, forcing him to once again bite down the urge to groan. He didn't want to show any sign of weakness in front of any of his companions, but especially not the little Hylian that everyone seemed to favor.
When Link was done, he rolled up his pant leg and began tending to his own injury in the same fashion. When he finished, he wordlessly stood back up and made his way toward the entrance.
"And where are you going?" Revali asked caustically. Between the pounding in his head and the uncomfortable pulsing in his wing, he had been in a foul mood since he had woken up that morning. Now, his arguably least favorite comrade was getting a move on without consulting him. Admittedly, there was a bit of a limp that Revali wasn't expecting to see, but it was still infuriating.
"I think the arrow nicked an artery," Link answered. He didn't look over his shoulder as he spoke, but instead, continued staring straight ahead. "We need to get you back to Mipha before you bleed to death." He finally turned to face the Rito, however, rather than the normally blank expression he wore, his face was stony, with his lips drawn tight and an icy hardness to his eyes. While he didn't verbalize it, his message was clear. Revali could either get moving, or Link would drag him kicking and screaming across the Plateau.
The Rito took a calming breath, trying not to lose his temper as he walked after Link. Even the threat of death wasn't enough to convince him to set his grudge aside.
Urbosa eyed the young, nervous Zora beside her. Though Mipha's face was carefully controlled, her hands were clasped, massaging themselves in what must have been a vain attempt to calm her herself. She couldn't blame her younger companion for being worried, as she could only imagine what their two missing comrades had to fight through last night. Assuming they were still alive, something she silently hoped was true, she couldn't imagine they would return without a scratch. Maybe it would be a possibility if they had found shelter before the Blood Moon had risen; however, she found that to be unlikely as Link had already shown a proclivity toward pushing himself too hard. Combining that with Revali's almost neurotic need to prove himself to be the better of the two, and she had no doubts that they had been in the thick of the dilemma.
"Relax," Urbosa murmured as she continued staring at the ledge above them. They had returned to the spot in which the group had first separated, hoping that they would have the sense to return there themselves. "It won't do anyone any good to get worked up before there's a reason to."
"I know, but…"
"It's hard not to," she finished, causing Mipha to glance at her. "I'm worried too," she said, focusing on the wide, amber orbs that gazed at her. "What I would like to do is climb up there and look for them myself, but that won't help anything. I don't know where they went or how to find them. The best I can do is wait here and hope for the best."
Mipha took a deep, calming breath before returning to her silent vigil. As Urbosa followed suit and focused on the ledge far above them, she couldn't help but empathize with the Zora a bit more. In this situation, they were next to powerless. If they had a way to track the duo, then Urbosa could have carried Mipha to the top and, together, they could have gone and found the missing two from their party. Instead, they had to wait and hope that the two would appear above them alive and reasonably well.
It was decidedly the worst thing she had experienced since waking up in the Shrine of Resurrection.
"They are alive, aren't they?" Mipha asked quietly.
"I hope so." The Zora was likely looking for something far more certain and reassuring, but the Gerudo couldn't give such an answer in good conscience. As much as she might wish and hope, she had to assess their predicament realistically. Link and Revali had been on their own during an extraordinarily dangerous time with little to no warning of what was about to happen. Perhaps they had gotten some words of caution from the voice that had provided them some guidance, but she wasn't planning on a timely intervention. "There!" she said suddenly as a blonde head poked his over the ledge.
"Thank goodness!"
Urbosa ignored the Zora's exclamation as she watched the Hylian. After a moment to establish they could see him, Link waved down to them, waiting until Urbosa returned it before withdrawing.
"What is he doing?"
"Patience," the Gerudo replied, as she looked back at Daruk, however, doing so only made her more uneasy. She had expected that Revali would have already swooped down, announcing that he had returned and that it was all thanks to him that Link was still alive and that they would be able to leave the Plateau. The fact that he was nowhere in sight, and that Link hadn't started climbing down told her something was wrong.
After a few seconds, a large, black boulder appeared above them, followed by Link. This time, Revali accompanied him; however, he was being all but carried by Link, one his wings being thrown over the Hylian's shoulder while the other one hung by his side. Though she was far below them, she could see the blood-stained rag that covered his wing.
Link held up the Slate before pointing it at the boulder next to him. Juggling both the Rito and the Slate, the Hylian looked to be tapping controls on the Slate before the boulder began rising. Just as quickly, it was set back down as Link was forced to readjust his hold on the limp Revali. With one last glance down to them, he tossed the Slate down towards them.
Urbosa watched the object calmly, snatching it from the air before it could collide with the ground below. She quickly activated the Magnesis Rune and aimed it at the boulder above. "Get ready," Urbosa commanded as she watched Link adjust the Rito so that he was now hanging off the Hylian's back. "Revali's going to need you."
"I know." Despite the situation, Urbosa noticed that Mipha's voice had dropped its nervous edge. Apparently, seeing them both was enough to snap her out of her anxiety. Now she sounded focused and ready to go as soon as she was needed.
Once Link had secured himself and Revali, Urbosa used the rune to lift the rock and pull them to her. Though she wanted to bring them down quickly, she opted for a slower descent as she reasoned it would be easier to control. A smoother descent would serve the Hylian and Rito better than a faster, potentially rockier one would.
As the two approached, Revali slipped, nearly falling to the earth below; however, Link had noticed this and reached out, grabbing the Rito by his good wing, leaving the rest of Revali to hang limp. Despite that, Urbosa only slightly increased the speed at which she brought them down. If she were to get too caught up in the moment and stop them or speed the process up too quickly, she would only endanger them more as it would inevitably jolt both Link and Revali.
After a few more seconds of bated breath, the stone finally reached the ground. As soon as it had done so, Urbosa dropped the Slate unceremoniously and rushed to their side, gently taking hold of the Rito and lowering him to the ground as Mipha knelt beside him.
Wasting no time, Mipha peeled the makeshift bandages away with practiced ease, her normally soft eyes now glowing with intensity as she analyzed the wound. She pursed her lips tightly as she finished removing the bandages and set her hand on the injury. Knowing that it would be taken care of, Urbosa eyed the rest of Revali, finding that his chest was rising and falling far too feebly for her liking. "What happened?"
"The Blood Moon," Link answered as he sat down to watch Mipha work. "We were caught in the middle of it."
"Of course you were," Urbosa sighed as she noticed the wound in his leg. "How is that?"
"I'll live." Despite the lack of concern in his voice, his ashen face said that he was in extreme discomfort.
"There," Mipha murmured as she retracted her hand, "I have done the best I can, but he has lost so much blood. We need to get him back to Rhoam's cottage so I can make an elixir to help his body restore it."
"Right." Link got to his feet, face twisting for a fraction of a second before returning to its typically neutral state. "I'll –"
"Sit back down," Urbosa finished as she picked the Rito up and set him over her shoulder. "I don't care if you're trying to be manly, or you don't want to be a burden, or whatever it is. You are going to sit down and let her –" she said as she gestured to Mipha, who had frozen in the process of reaching toward the Hylian, likely trying to convince him to let her heal him "- fix that leg of yours." Link opened his mouth to respond, however, Urbosa beat him to it once again. "I am going to have Daruk check that leg of yours after you cross and if it hasn't been healed, I am going to have him knock you across the Plateau and back. Do we understand each other?"
Link stared at her silently before finally nodding and sitting back down.
The Gerudo stayed and watched until Link had removed his bandage and rolled up the leg of his trousers. Only after she was certain that Link was going to sit and let himself be fixed up did she turn and carry an unconscious Revali across the bridge.
"Is he okay?" Daruk asked as she finished crossing the bridge.
"He should be, but I need to get him back to Rhoam's cottage." Though she had been waiting impatiently for answers from Rhoam, she already knew that he was going to make them wait until morning as he had made it clear that they all needed to be present for that conversation. Even had he offered to tell them that night, she would have refused. While she still wanted the answers that Rhoam had to offer, she was more concerned with making sure that Link and Revali were all right. "Link looks like he got shot in the leg with an arrow. If he comes across with that hole still in his leg, you have my permission to knock some sense into him."
"Got it," Daruk replied as he gave her a nod.
With that out of the way, the Gerudo left him behind, making her way back to Rhoam's hut. It was going to be a long night.
Link sat by the fire he had set to cook the group's breakfast the next morning. While letting the contents of his pot simmered, he had taken the opportunity to use a needle and thread he had found in Rhoam's hut to sew up the hole in his pants. It was shoddy, to say the least; however, it was serviceable, and that was what really mattered to him.
With his pants being repaired, he turned his attention back to the pot. As he checked to make sure that nothing was burning, he couldn't help but lean forward and sniff at the steam that rose from the food. As he inhaled the fragrance emanating from the sweet fruits, savory vegetables, and the variety of spices he had thrown into the mix, he couldn't help but feel a renewed appreciation for food as his stomach rumbled longingly.
He continued tending the meal as Revali stepped outside of Rhoam's hut and into the infant rays from the sun. During the night prior, the old man had offered to allow the Rito to use his cot while he continued his recovery. Of course, Revali, as prideful as ever, had refused, that he wasn't some weak-willed boy that needed every possible comfort provided to him. Immediately after that, he had tried for the umpteenth time to get to his feet and move around, which brought Mipha, who was already nearing the end of her rope with the Rito, dangerously close to snapping. In fact, she had been so frustrated with the Rito that she had wound up sitting next to him and pushing him back down; however, that only lasted until Daruk had outright threatened to sit on Revali if he didn't start behaving himself. After that, the Rito was much more agreeable, which helped to alleviate much of the tension that had been building among the group. That and Urbosa had decided that it was the right time to unleash the full brunt of her wit. The Gerudo was really the only one that managed to escape relatively unscathed by the experience, though she did make the mistake of allowing Rhoam an opportunity to retort. All in all, the night had ended on a relatively high note as they all went to bed in better moods then they had woken up in.
"How're you feeling?" Link asked, sparing the Rito a quick glance. The Hylian had no doubts that Revali was still under the weather, considering the fact that his normally deep, navy blue feathers lacked their normal luster, fading to a greyer tone. The fact that he had left the hut with his feathers in a disheveled mess was further evidence of Link's assumption.
"Fine." Revali sat down in front of the fire, staring into the flames as his normally piercing emerald eyes lost focus. He sat like that for a few short minutes before he tilted his head back and took a deep breath. "Mipha told me that if you hadn't bandaged my wing as well as you had, or if you hadn't gotten me back as quickly as you had, then I would be dead… so thanks."
Link was surprised that Revali was able to say it as easily as he did, or that he had said it at all. He had imagined that the Rito would find something to gripe about in the entire situation, as had been his habit thus far. Instead, Link was presented with an expression of gratitude that was sincere, well, as sincere as a stare that was dangerously close to a glare could be. Before Revali could say anything else, the Hylian nodded, conveying his understanding and acceptance of what was said.
Both of their pieces said, they turned their attention back to the crackling flames and their own thoughts. While the brief interaction with Revali was odd enough to warrant its own time for thought, Link was more concerned with what was to come. The night before, it had been agreed upon that Rhoam would finally reveal what he knew about both Hyrule's past and their own. He certainly had the desire to know about who he had been and his role in the world, but he was aware that with such knowledge came the potential to learn things he would rather not know. His conversation with Mipha concerning the past had brought the issue to the forefront of his mind. He considered that a good thing, as now he could take time to prepare himself as best he could, which wasn't much as he had no inklings of what he was preparing himself for. For some reason, not knowing what he was dealing with was much more unsettling than knowing what he was up against.
How was one supposed to prepare when they couldn't see the potential threat?
Even though he couldn't find the answers he sought, he was determined to see the conversation through its entirety.
His musings were cut short as his comrades started waking up. First was Daruk, who had curled up just outside of Rhoam's home. The Goron had looked around for a few minutes before finally shaking the sleep from his eyes and greeting both of his younger companions jovially. Next was Urbosa, who was annoyed as she had apparently been awakened by Daruk's unnecessarily loud greeting. A few minutes later, Mipha finally appeared from within Rhoam's hut, holding a letter from the old man saying he would be waiting for them at the Temple of Time. It was a good sign that Rhoam was being direct for once, as Link could easily imagine him giving them some cryptic message like they would find him at the point where lines drawn between the shrines converged or some such nonsense.
Despite the group's rambunctious behavior the night before, they now sat in near silence, focusing more on the meal in front of them rather than the few awkward attempts at conversation. This trend continued as they cleaned up their mess and began their trek to the Temple of Time. While Link wasn't always thrilled about the constant conversations, teasing, and other shenanigans that his companions took part in, there was something comforting in the consistency of it. Now, he could only find the lack of any more than the bare minimum of discussion disconcerting. Of course, the issue was only exacerbated as they approached the temple and the numerous rusted machines that littered its grounds. Though they had already traversed the Temple grounds and hadn't come across any machines that were operational, the memory of the Abbey was still fresh in their minds. As a result, even Daruk and Revali were stepping lightly around the rusted hunks of metal.
It wasn't long until their concerns were forgotten as they finally entered the Temple. Even Link, who normally didn't pay much attention to aesthetics, couldn't help but be impressed by the spacious interior. Despite the partial cave-in of the roof, the rotting wooden furnishings, and the dust that permeated the air, there was still much to appreciate. What was left of the stained glass sent a kaleidoscope of colors spilling across the pews that rested in front of a larger than life statue of a woman. Though the statue was made of stone, there was a warmth that emanated from the small smile that graced her face as she held her hands out in a welcoming gesture. At the statue's feet stood Rhoam, a silent spectator as they filed in and fanned out in front of him.
Behind the old man were five chests arranged in a line. Despite the purpose of their visit, Link experienced the inexplicable urge to rush past the man and open the chests. The thrill of discovery was almost too much for him to handle, but thankfully he was able to exercise enough self-control to refrain from rushing past him. Of course, he couldn't manage to go more than a few seconds without glancing towards the chests.
"It's time for some answers," Urbosa said curtly.
"I believe it is, but first I think a proper introduction is in order."
"We already know your name," Revali reminded him.
"You know only part of it." Rhoam was engulfed in an ethereal light. When Link could make him out again, the change astounded him. Rhoam's dark-colored rags had been replaced by a dark blue coat with gold accents, a white undershirt, and white pants. On his head sat a golden crown with wings spread to the sides. There was a green, otherworldly glow around him. "My name is Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule… the last king of Hyrule."
Link felt rather than saw his companions all try to break in to ask questions, but Rhoam silenced them with a raised hand and stern look. He couldn't blame them for trying, as he had a plethora of questions as well, but he knew that even attempting to ask them was pointless. Rhoam was determined to supply the answers in his own time and trying to make him do otherwise was a fruitless pursuit.
"I know you have many questions, but please let me speak first." Rhoam closed his eyes before he continued. "Stories of a Great Calamity have been told since ancient times. Stories of four warriors piloting giant mechanical beasts, of a chosen knight wielding the mythical blade of evil's bane, and a princess born with the power to seal away the darkness. I had always believed these were nothing more than mere myths. How wrong I was."
"One hundred years ago a prophecy was given. 'The return of the Great Calamity is upon us. To defeat him, seek relics hidden in the earth below.'" Rhoam opened his eyes and took the five of them in. "I did not want to believe it was true, but I was unwilling to risk the safety of my people. So, I ordered the excavations of various sites across Hyrule in search of the relics that were spoken of. At these sites, we discovered the guardians, mechanical warriors who fought autonomously, and the Divine beasts, the giant machines piloted by warriors in the legends. We prepared the guardians for battle, and pilots were selected by the Divine Beasts themselves," Rhoam paused for a moment.
"The sealing power lay dormant in my very own daughter, Princess Zelda and at her side was a knight who had proven himself worthy of wielding the blade of evil's bane. We called Zelda, her knight, and the four pilots Champions in the hopes that such a name would forge a unique bond between them. With our Champions chosen, we believed that we would be victorious in the coming battle. But we were horribly wrong." Rhoam opened his eyes, gazing at them with a mix of sorrow and exhaustion.
"Ganon responded with a plan that none could have foreseen. When he burst forth from the castle, he launched an attack on the guardians and the Divine Beasts, turning them against us. Under the physical strain of fighting the newly turned guardians, and the mental strain of trying to repel Ganon, the four pilots fell before they even made it to the foot of the castle. Seeking to protect my daughter, her Knight ordered a retreat, commanding some of his men to see the four fallen Champions to the Shrine of Resurrection. The Knight then took Zelda far away from the castle, and Ganon. However, they were ambushed before they made it to safety. On that battlefield, the Knight was gravely wounded as he shielded my Zelda from harm with his very body." Rhoam sighed. His face seemed to hang with the weight of the memories he was currently reliving.
"With one fell swoop, Ganon had defeated five of the champions. My daughter ordered her brave Knight be placed with his brothers and sisters in arms, then went to confront Ganon alone. Using her power, she trapped him in Hyrule castle, and remains there to this day, holding him back."
"Daruk, Urbosa, Mipha, Revali," Rhoam focused his attention on each one as he called their name. "You were the four pilots who fell that day. And Link," Rhoam said as he shifted his gaze to the young man, "you were the courageous knight who protected my daughter right up to the end. You have my gratitude for protecting her so diligently," Rhoam said as he inclined his head respectfully to Link. "The words of guidance you have been hearing since your awakening have come from Zelda herself. Even now she calls out to you as her power fades."
"On that day, I lost my life. I was far from ready to give up, though. Unfortunately, there was little I could do, so here I have remained for one hundred years, as a spirit, knowing that one day you would all awaken." The old man frowned, looking to be silently debating with himself before returning his attention to them. "When you first woke up, I considered telling you everything; however, after giving it some thought, I felt it would be better to assess your mental state before I revealed myself to you. Forgive me for not doing so sooner," he pled as he bowed his head.
"… I forgive you." If there was one person Link hadn't been expecting to hear those words from, it was Urbosa. While Revali had expressed plenty of disapproval for the old man, Urbosa had been the hardest on him by far. To suddenly hear that she was willing to forgive him for the very thing that had made her suspicious of him was jarring, to say the least. Judging by the wideness of his fellow "Champions'" faces, they felt very much the same.
"Thank you." Rhoam brightened considerably, an invisible weight being lifted from him as some of the pain left his face. He visibly relaxed as most of the tension left him all at once, leaving him appearing younger as some of his wrinkles disappeared in his wide smile. "Now then, before I say any more, I think you should open these," he said as he gestured to the five chests that were behind him.
Link barely gave Rhoam the opportunity to point out which chest corresponded to each Champion before rushing to his own and throwing it open. Inside, he found a set of armor, a broadsword, and a shield. "Back before the Great Calamity, this was the standard weaponry of the Hylian army. It's not exactly fitting your position, but this was the best I could do." Rhoam shuffled away, leaving Link to pull out the last item in the box. It was a paraglider bearing the same symbol that resided on the bodice of the statue above him.
"Thank you," Link replied simply. A brief glance at his companions showed that they had all received weapons, and Urbosa and Revali had received their own lightly armored outfits. After they had all taken a few minutes to find their own spaces to change into their new, better fitting outfits and equip their new weapons, they gathered back around Rhoam.
"I would naturally assume that you will be wondering where to go next," Rhoam stated once Revali had finally rejoined them. Link might have wondered what took him so long; however, he couldn't help but notice that the Rito's feathers had been freshly preened. Apparently, he had finally noticed how disheveled he looked and sought to rectify his unkempt appearance.
"Right," Daruk replied, prompting the old man to continue before anyone else could butt in.
"Follow me," Rhoam said as he moved past them. They walked after him, exchanging silent questions as the old man led them out of the Temple and off the grounds entirely.
"Where are we going?" Daruk asked when their destination wasn't readily apparent.
"Patience," Rhoam responded as he continued walking. "I would advise against heading directly for the castle. While at one time I could easily say you were the finest warriors in Hyrule, I don't think you could handle him in your current state. Instead, head for the Dueling Peaks," he instructed as he pointed toward a mountain that had been split in half. "Then, follow the path North to Kakariko Village. There, you will find the Elder Impa, who will be able to tell you more."
"Got it," Daruk replied as he leaned over the edge, looking at the earth far below. "Hey Revali, wanna race to the bottom?"
"Race? Even falling won't be eno –"
"No!" Mipha interrupted vehemently. "You are still recovering, and not fit to be pushing yourself."
"On the count of three?" Revali offered as he spread his wings.
"You're on!"
"Of course," Urbosa sighed as the two stood at the edge. "Three… two… one…"
Both the Rito and Goron Champions threw themselves off the edge as Mipha turned her indignant eyes on Urbosa. "You know that Revali isn't in any shape to –"
"He doesn't have a paraglider," Urbosa interrupted patiently. "Either way, he's going to get down there as fast as he can. We may as well let him indulge in his competitive side. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go knock some sense into two 'Champions.'" Despite her self-proclaimed task, she took the time to exchange one last nod with Rhoam before jumping off the ledge herself.
"My, she is as much a handful as I remember," Rhoam murmured as they watched the Gerudo glide down, her long, red hair billowing in the wind behind her. "Before you two go, I have things I would like to say to you both."
"Yes?" Mipha asked.
"Before the Great Calamity, your father and I were well acquainted, friends even. As my friend, he tried to advise me that certain measures I was taking would do more harm than good. When you finally return home, will you tell your father that he was right? If I had listened to him, then maybe all of this could have been avoided."
"I will," the Zora replied after a moment of silence.
"Thank you." The old man nodded before turning back to Link. "As for you, young man," he said as he set a hand on Link's shoulder, "I do not think that words can adequately express my gratitude for you. You stood beside my daughter even when her country… and her father, abandoned her. There are very few that can make that same claim. Though words cannot express how grateful I am, I hope that some part of you understands… and that you can forgive me for my mistakes."
Link had to fight to keep from fidgeting as Rhoam stared at him unrelentingly. It wasn't just because he had no memories to provide context for the old man's words. The fact was, the Hylian Champion had no idea how he was supposed to take the Rhoam's words. How was someone supposed to simply accept praise from a man of such high standing, especially when he couldn't even verify the words with memories? It was an uncomfortable situation, to say the least. Even so, he knew that Rhoam needed some form of acknowledgment, so he nodded his head.
The old man sighed as he lifted his hand from Link's shoulder. "I can see you don't understand yet, but I am sure you will in time." He turned away, looking towards Hyrule Castle before continuing. "There is nothing more I can do for you, but I will pray for your success all the same. May the Goddess guide you on your journey." They stared at him silently until he started chuckling. "You know, I don't think your friends will wait forever. Go on."
"Thank you, for everything." Mipha appeared mildly conflicted as she quickly clutched her hands together. "I hope… I hope you find some measure of peace."
"Thank you. Now you really must be going. I do not recall Urbosa having much patience for dragging one's feet."
Link nodded one last time to the late King of Hyrule before taking a running leap off the Plateau. He fell for a few seconds as he fumbled with his paraglider before finally opening it and gliding down to join the other Champions. As he did so, he glanced over his shoulder to check on Mipha. After finding that the Zora Champion had successfully opened her own paraglider, he glanced toward the top of the Plateau. As he did so, he watched as the late King of Hyrule dissipated like dust in the wind. While he couldn't say he felt close to the man, he still felt some sense of loss as the last traces of Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule disappeared from the world. He sighed before turning back to the road ahead. It would do him no good to look back right now. Not when there was so much left to do.
A/N: HOW DID THIS WIND UP SO LONG?! Seriously, it's almost 14000 words... good grief.
On another note, thank you to ConstipatedGenius for betaing the chapter for me.