Chapter 4: Reminiscing

"Revali."

"Congratulations on your work in Hyrule Castle, I would say that we could both rest now, but yet here you are still with that sword on your back and here I am. Any idea why this might be?"

I showed him my singed tail.

"Eeee, might want to keep that away from those campfires, those take a while to grow back you know."

He said, rubbing his own tail feathers, I didn't want to know why he was doing that. I turned away.

"Actually, it was from a guardian blast."

He turned.

"A what!?"

"The guardians are still active; I wouldn't be surprised if bokoblins and moblins still plague the forest. Ganon is… still alive."

His wing balled into a fist.

"So all the champions, the sword, all the work, it was all for nothing."

"Not for nothing, Princess Zelda is free, and Ganon was weakened."

I drew my sword and looked at its glowing blue blade, a symbol of my calling that was now very much needed.

"He and I will face again."

I spun the sword and sheathed it. I turned to face Revali, feather braids blowing in the wind as a look of determination crossed my face.

"And this time, I'll be stronger."

"I hope so, for all our sakes."

He turned and stared at the horizon.

"Surely you didn't come up here just to tell me that did you?"

"No, I didn't."

"So why did you come?"

"Because… the sword told me to."

"It talks?"

"Apparently, but only a select few can hear it."

"Hmm… interesting."

"So, what were you doing in Rito village?"

"Warning the Elder and…"

I sighed.

"Trying to remember my life."

"I see. Did you have any luck?"

I shook my head.

"I did find this though."

I pulled out his diary.

"I thought that going through the pages would help. But so far, nothing."

"Is that, mine?"

I nodded.

"What did you read?"

"Not much, none of it makes any sense to me."

"So, what do you want to know?"

"Hmm…?"

"Well…why read about it?

He turned around in a prideful flourish

"I have a perfect memory and here I am, more or less. Ask away! I'll be happy to answer any question about your past that I was there to see."

"Ok, for starters, why did you act so hostile towards me?"

He gasped in shock then turned and pointed a finger of accusation at me.

"Me? What about you? I visited you at the castle, even after you stopped writing me letters and you didn't speak, you didn't smile, you acted like you didn't even know me!"

I turned away, shocked at his sudden anger.

"Did I have the Master Sword on my back?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just… answer… the… question. Did I or did I not have the Master Sword on my back?"

I said with force in my words.

"You… did."

I turned back toward him.

"I still don't remember that, but I know why I acted the way I did. The Master Sword has a burden that nobody can fully understand. When I got it, everyone realized that I was the Hero of Legend, do you know how much responsibility that is? Everyone was now looking at me to defeat Ganon, watching my every move, expecting me to be this pinnacle of courage, chivalry, and heroism."

I turned away.

"With so many eyes on me, and so much at stake, I didn't feel like I could be myself. So, I just stayed silent and kept my emotions hid as I did my duty. There were others who could have heard us. I only show my true inner self around those who I trust and ofttimes love. That day in Rito village, I was going to speak to you, to reconnect as brothers. But you acted like you hated me! It not only was confusing, it hurt! I may have not been the brother you expected to see at the academy, but I never forgot you and never hated you! So, while I may have been hostile to you and not meant it, that didn't give you the right to be hostile towards me!"

Tears of Anger streamed down my face as I stared my shocked and somewhat afraid brother down. He finally spoke.

"I just thought that you were ignoring me, I never thought…"

"Most people don't. But brothers are supposed to be friends, not rivals. You wanted us to fight side by side against Ganon, how could we have done that if we wouldn't talk to each other?"

"You're… right."

"But we are both at fault here, when we went our separate ways and destiny called us in different ways, we let ourselves grow apart."

"Eeesh… How cheesy can you get Link?"

We both had a good laugh.

"Brothers again?"

Revali smiled.

"Always."

I tried to put my hand on his back only to have it pass completely through. As much as I cared for Revali, he was still just a spirit. And to me, that just wouldn't do.

"So, now that we got all the yelling out of the way, what else do you want to know about your past?"

I pondered for a minute, one of biggest desires was to find out more about my life before I went to train to be a knight, as it would certainly form a good foundation and further mend our relationship. I asked what the obvious next question should be.

"Mom and Dad, who were they?"

Revali reacted as if I had shot him with an arrow. Then he turned, hanging his head.

"You won't remember them even if you tried. They died when you were 3 years old."

I gasped.

"They were both Rito warriors and a great team in combat, marriage, and parenthood. But when the Rito went to go help the Sheikah with the Yiga clan… Mom and Dad didn't come back."

"So, who raised me?"

I said, a single tear streaming down my face.

"Isn't it obvious? I did. I was 13 and I had a little brother to raise."

I gasped, Revali continued.

"We had no other family, no uncles, no aunts, no cousins. We were on our own, so I tried to take care of you best I could."

"I see. What about the time that I split an arrow as a fledgling? That's the earliest memory I can recall."

Revali smiled.

"That was your 4th birthday, I gave you a handmade bow after you showed such interest in mine and gave you your first archery lesson. When you made that shot, I could tell you were special. And so far, all that I've seen about you and that Sword on your back has done nothing to prove at least that notion about you wrong. I wonder though, did my relationship with you and how I helped you grow influence the Princess's decision on who the Rito champion was to be?"

I distinctly remembered writing a note that read: "Revali, Champion of the Rito and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Medoh." By candlelight as I sat there in full armor minus the helmet. I blew on the ink to dry it and cracked a smile, I couldn't wait to give this to the Princess.

I smiled, "It did, you were the First Champion that was chosen, and it was I that recommended you to the Princess."

He turned back to me.

"You remember that?"

"I do."

"Who would've thought."

"I never forgot you Revali, and your letters were always something to look forward to."

"Glad you liked them."

He frowned.

"You probably should get going, the Princess is probably wondering where you are."

I looked around; it was night already. The journey to Rito village and talking with Revali had taken the whole day.

I turned and prepared to take off.

"I will find a way to bring you back Revali! Mark my words!"

"And I'll be waiting here when you do."

I took off towards Rito village, my memory still not restored, but I remembered my bond with Revali, and for the time being, I was ok with that.