SPOILER WARNING: This chapter contains references to Memory 2 "Revali's Flap".
PREVIOUSLY: After a visit with Impa, they begin traveling to memories chronologically. At the Sacred Grounds, they witnessed a memory before the ceremony in which Zelda tried to make Revali her appointed knight - all within earshot of Link. They then see the ceremony and hear the second prayer verse, which should have activated trials for Link to undergo so he could be one with the sword. Zelda sends Link away, pushing him into a decision on what his future will be.
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Title: It All Must Start With Us
Chapter 5: Revali's Request
Author: Sailor Song
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One week had passed since she'd sent him away. For one week he had travelled alone, no companion but his horse, no mission but the one she gave him. He had been back, of course, multiple times in fact, but she didn't know he was there. He had only gotten close enough to satisfy his need to know she was safe, and then back to his vacation, as it were.
He didn't enjoy a single moment of it. Drinking Noble Pursuits in Gerudo Town neither intoxicated him nor loosened his inhibitions. Diving off the highest cliffs in Zora's Domain hadn't thrilled him. Defeating a horde of golden lynels only served to cause him injury, yet he couldn't feel the pain of their many savage attacks. Winning contest after contest in the fields of horseback riding, archery, and racing gave him no pleasure. All this time in solitary had really served to do was answer the question of who he would be or what he would do be once the threat of the Calamity was over, and that was nothing. At least, nothing while he knew she was in the world. He was numb. She was the only person or thing that could make him feel something, and she had sent him away.
At exactly one week to the second, he returned to the village, yet he stayed hidden up high by Vah Medoh and did not reveal himself. He had a plan, but it was night and he needed daylight to see it through.
It was right before noon when he took a deep breath and readied himself. Prepared for just about anything, her rejection most of all, he took the leap and launched the paraglider, allowing himself to be gently lowered. One look from her was all he would need; one look and he would know.
It didn't take long to find her on the platform listening to Kass and his children as they performed a song for the princess. When it concluded, he watched as she praised the musicians for their performance. One of the girls noticed him, and in an instant they were all around him. Then, she turned, and in her glance, he saw her eyes exactly what he had been wanting to see. She would not send him away again.
"Girls, let's go see your mother," Kass said, adding, "Welcome back, Link," as he passed. Link gave his friend a smile, and in a look, he tried to convey the depth of his gratitude.
Long after the family was gone, the pair stood in silence. A gentle breeze blew strand of her hair past her face, and he had to fight the urge to brush them away. Instead, he reached out a hand to her, hoping she would trust him and take it.
"You're late," Zelda said finally.
"I'm just in time," he replied, and closing his hand around her own, he lead her to the edge of the pillar. Paraglider in hand, he instructed her to hold on tight, and together they flew down toward his target where he'd prepared everything.
He landed on the platform where he'd once solved a riddle to reveal a shrine. As the sun pierced the Rito pillar, it projected a heart upon them while all around leaving shadow where he had laid out hundreds of silent princess and blue nightshade flowers, all of which lit up brightly in the midday shadow.
"Link, this is… how did you do all of this?"
At arm's length, he took both her hands in his own, and after a deep breath, he opened himself up to be the most vulnerable he had ever been.
"You sent me away to find what makes me happy, but all I found is that nothing gave me joy when I had no purpose. You were the first voice I heard in the darkness, and when I was alone in the wilderness, you were by my side through it all. I don't know who I used to be, but I know who I am now: I am a man who wishes to stay by your side."
"As my appointed knight?" It was a whispered question, that held an impossible mix of hope and sadness.
"No," he replied, moving to close the distance between them. He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and spoke softly, "I want to be more to you, Zelda. That is, if you will have me."
Her arms were around him in an instant, and he ever so carefully returned the embrace, putting his hands on the small of her waist. He heard her whisper into his ear, "Say it again."
"I wish to-"
"No," she said through happy tears as she pulled back slightly to look him in the eyes. "I heard that part. Say my name."
He smiled. "Zelda."
She moved closer until they barely an inch apart. "Say it again," she whispered.
"Zel-" He couldn't finish; their lips collided. He was unsure of who it was who closed the distance, but he decided it didn't matter.
Lips so soft, he was suddenly remembering back to another time. It was dark and raining, there were screams and blasts, but soft lips pressed against his own. "I will be back,"he heard himself say. "When I return, I have something I want to tell you."
"Link?"
He gasped. He had forgotten to breathe. "We've done this before."
She nodded and looked away sadly, though still in his arms. "Right before you went to fight… You didn't say anything, but you did kiss me."
"I would like to kiss you again," he said, this time his lips connecting with her forehead.
Minutes, perhaps hours, passed as they stole away to the ruins beside the shrine. In each other's arms, she asked him about his time away, and he in turn asked about hers, though she left some of it out, saying she wanted to talk to him about it later. Most of the time, however, was spent in quiet as they simply enjoyed the warmth of one another.
A chilled breeze broke the spell as he realized the sun was nearing the end of its a kiss to her forehead, he began to pull away, causing her to groan slightly.
"I want nothing more than hold you and kiss you until the stars fall from the heavens," he told her, "but we have lost a week and there is much time to make up for."
"Always your duty," she said half-heartedly. "I take it back. Leave me. Go."
He chuckled as he helped her to her feet. "No. Never again." He grabbed the Sheikah Slate from his side. "I had the transportation rune upgraded while I was away. Do you feel like testing it?"
"Is it safe?"
He nodded, adding, "Purah and I already tried it. Do you have warm clothing with you? If not, I have a potion ready."
She patted her pack. "I have my winter gear, I'll just need a moment to change. Where are we going?"
"Up there," he said pointing upwards, "to Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Revali is waiting for us."
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Having changed and shared a few more moments in gentle caresses, they materialized high atop the Rito pillar beside the claws of the great mechanical creature. It still glowed blue, but the beam of light that once pointed to the castle was extinguished.
"About time you have come," they heard a voice say from a green, ghostly flame appearing before them. "Should I be flattered that you came to see me first?"
Link had to fight the urge to say he was lucky they had come at all, but he knew better than to disrespect the dead. Especially the dead who helped him defeat Ganon.
In the flames appeared the figure of the Rito who had fought and died so valiantly one hundred years ago.
"Princess Zelda, it does me good to look upon you once more."
"Revali," she began. "I have so much to thank you for, but I'm not sure where to begin."
"You could start with sharing tales of my bravery far and wide," he began with a sweeping gesture. "Building a statue of honor in the newly restored castle. Naming your first child after me." Link was taken aback as Revali winked at Zelda before turning to face him. "One can only hope it has her looks and not yours."
Even in death, the bird was an asshole.
"Why isn't your spirit at rest yet, Revali?" he asked, slightly peeved at the Rito's impertinence.
"It's a funny thing, you see. I lent you my power, I helped you defeat Calamity Ganon, and yet, now I seem to be unable to move on. I suppose that you are the reason I'm still here."
"Your gift helped me," Link said in all sincerity. "I will always be grateful to you."
Revali seemed surprised by the lack of animosity. "I have a request to make. I had no wife, no children, no one to carry on my memory. No way to share my greatest accomplishment. I'd like you to pass on Revali's Gale. Teach the strongest of my people how to create the updraft. In that way, my spirit can live on."
"It would be my great honor," Link said, pressing his right arm across his chest.
"Thank you, Link," Revali said doing the same before pointing to a newly appeared circle of golden light. "I'm aware of your mission to regain memories so you may document your many failures." He paused and his demeanor became very serious. "I may have been a less than humble Rito in life, but I hope this helps to explain my resentment towards you."
Link nodded, and with Zelda's hand in his, they stepped into the light.
They were transported back to the Rito Village of one hundred years ago. The people were lively, and excitement was all around.
"What do you think is happening?" Zelda asked beside him.
"I have no idea," Link replied looking around. "It appears everyone is headed that way."
They followed them down the many bridges that headed toward the entrance of the village. At the place where the loudest of the cheers could be heard, they found a festival going on.
"Look, Link!" she exclaimed. "It's Revali!"
The Rito was younger, perhaps a teenager, fiddling with a bow that was almost larger than him. He was approached by another, his father most likely given their similar coloring.
"Are you ready for this?"
"I heard that a Hylian boy entered," Revali scoffed. "Is this a joke?"
"I'd advise you to not underestimate him. He is the son of a knight and there is talk of him being one of the greatest fighters Hyrule has ever seen."
Revali scoffed, and crossed the bridge to head for the Rito Stable. Targets had been set up along the pillars leading to the village - ten to be exact and all in varying sizes and shapes. He walked up to the line of competitors, sizing them up as he greeted them. At the end of the line, he stared at the younger Link.
"How old are you?" Zelda asked in a hushed voice.
"I'm not completely sure," Link began, "but I don't have the sword yet. Once I had it, I never took it off."
"I heard you acquired it when you were twelve or thirteen." He gave her a look, causing her to suddenly become defensive. "What? My maids liked to gossip."
They followed the younger Revali as he approached the younger Link of the past.
"I'm surprised to see a Hylian here," Revali said. "Especially one so young. I hope you don't have hard feelings towards us when you are soundly beaten."
"I won't," the younger Link replied without looking up as he fiddled with his bow. "I'm going to win."
Revali blinked several times in surprise. "Forgive me, I must have misheard you. Am I to understand that you think you can beat a Rito at an airborne archery contest?"
The younger Link gave an uncharacteristic smirk. "I didn't say I think I can win… I KNOW I will win."
Revali was taken aback by the confidence of the wingless child. "You… you can't even fly."
The boy shrugged. Before anything else could be spoken between them, an announcer called for the archers to take their places.
"Good luck," the Hylian said as Revali walked away, still looking very confused.
Each of the archers performed their feats of skill one by one. They dove from the cliff, and as they were in freefall, they had one chance to shoot all of the targets. The best score was six out of ten when Revali stepped up to the platform.
He was really spectacular, and managed to take out eight targets before soaring back up to the cheering crowd.
And then, it was Link's turn. There were some murmurs and a few snickers that broke out as he walked up. "A Hylian? Really?" said a voice in the crowd. It was Revali who held out a wing to silence them, but he gave a smile and a wink.
Link ignored all of it. He took in a breath and launched himself from the platform. Faster than anything they had ever seen, he shot the targets one, two, four, six, and perhaps more, but it was over so quickly and he was gone. The crowd gasped, realizing a Hylian could not fly back up, but one Rito looked over and laughed.
"He's climbing back up!"
Link and Zelda stepped to the edge, and sure enough, the younger Link was indeed grabbing hold of the near-sheer rock wall and climbing back up to to the top. As he emerged there was a cheer from all who gathered around. All that is, but Revali, who watched as the referee flew around, counting the arrows from Link's attempt.
"How many?" Revali asked.
The official waited for the crowd to quiet before announcing the results. "Nine! The Hylian has hit nine of the ten targets."
Revali's face fell from one of shock into ultimate disdain. "Impossible," he said.
"It was actually ten," Link said to Zelda.
"What do you mean?"
He pointed to one of the targets, the smallest of all where an arrow had split another.
"I was not humble. I wanted him to know I was better than him," Link said ashamed. "So with my last shot, I aimed for a target I had already hit."
"Perhaps," the ghost of Revali said, appearing beside them. "But you also gave me the chance to improve. To strive to be better than you. If you had hit every target, I could only ever work towards becoming your equal. If I could do better, I could be the best." He put a wing on Link's shoulder. "If not for you, I wouldn't have sought to create Revali's Gale and show my people and all of Hyrule that I, Revali, was the strongest and bravest in the land."
The past Link was brought to the Rito elder and offered the prize of the tournament. The crowd cheered and the boy waived, but spoke softly so that only the elder could hear him.
"I asked for a secret of the Rito to be my prize instead," Link explained as he remembered. "Since my very youngest days, I had been traveling to the four races of Hyrule and learn their most highly guarded secrets. This was the last one."
"What did the elder tell you?" Zelda asked.
"It's waiting in the Lost Woods, in the watchful gaze of the Great Deku Tree."
"Do you want to know what Link said to the village elder next, Princess?" Revali asked with a scoff. "Give the prize to the runner-up."
The scene shifted to the one Link had already seen on Revali's Landing, where the past Link stood alone watching Vah Medoh fly overhead.
"Now you know why I held such contempt for you," Revali said as the memory him began to show off his updraft. "I do wish I'd realized then that you were not my rival, but that you made me better. In the end, I just wasn't good enough."
"Neither was I," Link admitted. "I almost died in the fight with the Calamity. It's only because of Zelda that I lived. You were all alone and caught by surprise when you faced the Windblight Ganon."
Revali smirked at him as the memory was nearing its end. "I suppose this is goodbye for us." To Zelda he gave a bow. "You are braver than you know, Princess. You will make a fine queen." He turned, and as he began to disappear in green flames, he said will all sincerity, "Link, I do wish we could have had one more competition."
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It was dark when they returned, standing beside Medoh high atop the Rito pillar. There was a sudden whirring of the engines as the Divine Beast began to power down, its light gone. It was nothing more than a statue over the village.
The Sheikah Slate chimed with an update.
** Mysterious Voice - Sacred Grounds **
A strange yet familiar voice has tasked you and Princess Zelda with reliving memories of your past. By figuring out the mistakes you both made before the Calamity occurred, you can create a record to guide Hyrule in the future.
Lady Impa's suggestion of viewing them in chronological order seems to be the key to updating the quest.
** Memories revisited: 3/19 **
Suddenly remembering the effect on Zelda the two times it had updated before, he looked to her with urgency. Thankfully, she wasn't glowing this time; there was no blood, no fainting. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm well," she replied as she unconsciously checked her hands. "It seems it's not simply the experience of seeing the memories that triggers the problem."
Always the scientist, he thought as he reached out to touch her face. She leaned into his gentle caress and placed her hand upon his own.
The sound of music suddenly filled the air; Kass was playing his accordion on the platform below
"Shall we go see him?"
Zelda nodded and the pair of them drifted down with the paraglider.
The Rito stopped playing mid-song as he saw them approach. "Ah! I was hoping you had not left without saying goodbye."
"Why's that?"
"As I traveled and sought ways to help, I met strangers who knew stories and songs," he began. "I had forgotten about one interaction until I saw your return, Link. There was a man who asked me to give you both a message: 'Seek her out on the Great Plateau.'"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Link getting the sword is unknown, but in Dark Horse's Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion a.k.a. Master Works, it says he was likely 12-13.
I wanted to say again how very grateful I am for the follows, favorites, and reviews! I specifically wanted to say thank you to some in particular:
* James Birdsong - I really appreciate your reviews and continued commitment to my story. I hope you continue to enjoy it!
* FreelancerMissouri - Haha I didn't even think of including Eventide, but that would be absolutely hilarious! Feel free to write your own side story if I never get around to it!
* thenameshero - Wow! What a compliment - thank you! I do have the story planned, and I have every intention of seeing this through.
* Guest (who wrote on chapter 6) - Thank you so so much! You have flattered me deeply with your words, and I hope I can live up to your praise!
