The memory presented in this chapter (as you can guess by the title) is one of my favorites, and introduces the one character that got what he deserved. I mean, Urbosa, Daruk, and Mipha, their deaths were sad. Revali? Nah.

Speaking of memories, there is a weird order in the game. Chronologically, Link and Zelda might have set out for Rito Village first, but BOTW makes a probable error in the order of memories, if you think of their locations. After the Revali memory, the pair are in Hyrule Field (the "Can you hear your sword, Hero?" one), then Daruk's memory, and afterwards the one by the shrine south of Rito Village (the "I don't need you here with me, tell daddy that too!" one). See where that could be confusing if I was to write the story in that order? It happens again later down the line, but unlike here, it makes sense for the relationship between Link and Zelda, so I won't mess with it.

So I will switch up "Zelda's Resentment" to the next chapter, and I think that should be the only change in order of memories. With that said, enjoy Chapter 11!

Zelda's timing was impeccable: It was early evening when the pair left the snow-capped mountains of Tabantha, arriving at the Rito Stable, the nearby village of the same name looming over the Hylians like a hungry Hinox. The village rested on a rock spire, twirling around it up to three-fourths its length. The bird people could be seen within and flying around the village, enjoying an evening flight. They were joined by the monstrous mechanical being in the sky, the Divine Beast Vah Medoh.

Link and Zelda left their horses at the stable, the princess deciding that she'd rather stay "in the bird's nest that the horse's stable." Link himself wouldn't have minded, and if the job didn't require him to be at Zelda's side at all times (much to the Princess' dismay. She wasn't visually happy when she saw Link following her from the stable), he would actually do some exploring of the region. He had never been to the northwestern side of the country, so a new region equated to new adventures.

But duty calls. Even when duty doesn't want him to be around.

Crossing a series of bridges and 'islands,' the pair made it to the front of the village that began the winding staircase. Present there was a few Rito guards standing behind a large, gray owl, a younger owl standing beside the larger owl , trying to blend with the feathers of the latter (father and son apparently) and a more familiar blue bird. The larger owl stepped forward, reaching his arms out to the pair. "Princess Zelda, it is a pleasure to have you come visit us. It has been some time."

Zelda smiled, taking the owl's hand. "Chief Komali. I'm afraid this isn't a visit for pleasure, but business. Divine Beast business."

"Ohhh, well, any visit to Rito Village by you is a pleasurable one." Moving his eyes, Chief Komali spotted Link, who himself was not paying attention to the matter between leaders. He glared instead at Revali, the arrogant Rito Champion sneering back. Ever since he first met the bird, Link caught a threatening vibe from him. He wasn't able to pinpoint whether or not it was jealousy that Link was the one chosen by the Master Sword, or disappointment. Whatever the case, Link didn't see much in Revali's worth either. The other Champions, save for Link and Revali, were of high standing in their societies. Mipha, Princess to the Zoras. Zelda, Princess to the Hylians. Urbosa, older sister of the Gerudo King. Daruk, highly respected member of his society. But Link was now known as Link, Hero of Hyrule (Link shuddered thinking of being the Hero). Revali? Some hotshot warrior.

"You must be the Hylian Champion, the one chosen by the Master Sword, the Hero of Hyrule." Link snapped to attention, turning to the Rito Chieftain. He nodded and bowed before the Chieftain, then silently stood back up. After a minute, Zelda elbowed Link, and made a face. Link caught the message quickly.

"Oh...umm… Yeah. Hello Chief Komali. I'm...Link."

"Sir Link," Zelda whispered harshly.

"Sir Link...sir." Link hoped the Princess would not lecture him on this later. In no part of his training was he told how to introduce himself. As for the feathered roast chuckling to himself, Link held the desire to have bird thighs for dinner.

"Oh ho ho, it is ok, Master Link. Welcome to Rito Village. Now you two must be tired. Accommodations have been made."

Zelda stepped forward. "I'll take your offer. Sir Link, you are free to do as pleased while we are in the town. I doubt I'll have need for a personal knight in the town."

Link nodded, but issued his own declaration. "If you don't leave town, you won't need me." Zelda's resulting glare satisfied Link as he backed away from the group. She would try to leave, he knows. But as long as she knew Link was watching, and if she was that desperate to stay away from him, she wouldn't leave Rito Village.

Or so he hoped.

The next morning, Zelda

In Zelda's experience with the Divine Beasts, each one was, in one way or another, tailored to the race of Hyrule they were piloted by. Vah Ruta, piloted by Princess Mipha, was a water-dweller machine, like the Zora. Vah Rudania, piloted by Daruk, was a denizen of the mountains to the northeast inhabited by the Gorons. Vah Naboris, commanded by Urbosa, channeled the power of the desert the Gerudo revered. Vah Medoh, like Revali and the Rito, personally prefered the air.

Zelda had seen all four machines, but never as close as she was getting today, and never on the inside. As the first, Zelda was not disappointed with Medoh's interior. Like the beast was tailored to the Rito's way of life, the makeup of Medoh was tailored to it. Electricity surged through the beast, directing the beast along an automatic path. To turn, some type of program would lean the machine left or right, just as a real bird would. On both wings, large shutters lined the walls, closed for now to keep wind out, but could be opened at any time, whether automatically or at Champion Revali's discretion. Unfortunately, the decorated Rito warrior was absent from the Divine Beast. Right now, as Zelda removed the Sheikah Slate from the Guardian Stone embedded deep within the belly of the beast, she now had full control of Vah Medoh.

Even better, Link was left behind too, so with only Komali and a few Rito guards with her, Zelda set off on her will while she awaited the Rito Champion. Revali still had some trouble controlling Medoh, so Zelda would assist adjusting the connection between man (well...bird) to machine. Until he arrived, wherever he might be, Zelda would have her freedom to study the Divine Beast of the Rito. Maybe she'll discover something on her own, something new and possibly important, and then her father would recognize how important she could be to the research effort, instead of just wasting her time praying to the gods futilely.

So she sat on the upper deck of Medoh, upon the machine's back, letting the upper atmosphere beat her hair and skin as it rushed against her. Sheikah Slate in hand, the princess toyed with the machine's capabilities. It was an amazing device, even without the runes. Though Zelda's was the only one present, many other researchers theorize that there must be others. Zelda's was found in an ancient chamber close to the Temple of Time, which Robbie has dubbed 'The Shrine of Resurrection' after studying it for a while. Hopefully they won't have to test it.

It could locate any object scanned into its compendium, whether it be a mushroom, Hylian herb, hot-footed frog, or a shrine. Zelda had found two close to the town, one slightly north, the other far to the south. The latter interested her more as it was, not only an hour or less away but far enough that if "her appointed knight" caught wind, she would be long gone.

Not today, however. He would expect her to do something crazy today.

She wondered what her companion (he wasn't a friend, don't get it twisted. "Companion" was the only word she could agree with her conscious to call him) was doing back in the village. Link was no socialite, much like Zelda but to a greater degree. Funny enough, he was the only person in recent memory (besides the Sheikah, Link's father, and her father) that she was comfortable conversing with, even if it was a quarter of what you could call "having a conversation." The only real one they had in the week they have been together since first heading to the Great Hyrule Forest was at the Breach of Demise, with small talk here and there.

Purah's comment about Link resurfaced in her mind, about how Zelda "doesn't attend to one of her duties as heir." Did she mean interacting with the other sex in such a way? If so, then yes, Zelda has lacked in that department, along with others as well. Not her fault that she doesn't swoon at the first sight of dirty blonde, blue-eyed, low muscle toned boys who have know their way with a sword. Not her fault that she doesn't quake in her feet when some boy deemed "Hero" shows up. If the stories are true, it isn't her fault she will break some ancient "tradition" of the hero and princess falling in love. Just because Link is cute, brave, headstrong, and is a near representation of the courage she wants in a king… But even if he was the owner of her affections, he has a long way to go. At least King Rhoam would approve… Even in their few encounters, Zelda has heard the gossip of how Link is almost a son to the ruler. It could be favoritism due to Link coming close to fulfilling his destiny, or that (Zelda knew this well) Rhoam had always wanted a prince. Impa told her of what her father said on the night she was born, so seeing Link would bring those feelings back up. Then again, her father is technically Link's godfather, and Link's father's boss. Of course certain feelings would be there… Zelda couldn't say the same.

"Your Highness." Zelda turned around, meeting a Rito guard. "Champion Revali is on his way."

"Thank you," Zelda said, rising to her feet. "We'll meet up here."

Link

The ordained Hero of Hyrule stood upon a platform near the top of the village, staring into the lower regions of Tabantha. The Princess had not called him to his duty when she left for Vah Medoh, not that was expecting her to do so. He made his fun. Earlier today, he went to fetch some food for breakfast, and caught a concert from a harp-playing Rito named Medli, who he found out was the Chief's wife. He took some time to explore the town, and now settled upon the platform many Rito drop to begin their flight. In the moments standing there, Link began to ponder many things.

First was, of course, the looming darkness and his role in it. As he walked around town, it seemed every Rito there had his or her eyes on him. First he thought that it was because he was Hylian, then realized the true reason (hint: Other Hylians were there, and they looked at him with the same gaze the Rito did) was the sword on his back, and the blue of his shirt. It marked him as the Hylian Champion, Wielder of the Master Sword, the Hero of Hyrule. Like his years training in the army, he was uncomfortable with being stared down. Being his father's son was one thing; he got use to it eventually, and lived up to his family's name. But with the expectations with every look at him, the weight of the task weighed him down more and more than holding a large column with even the strongest golden gauntlets could do.

Then there's the fight against the Calamity itself. His enemy was neither man nor beast (heroes of the past made sure of that), but the true essence of evil, hatred, and malice. Just how the hell is he suppose to fight that? And if there's a way he does beat Ganon… Zelda's job turns up. Unlike most of the gossip mongers, he has faith Zelda will find her hidden power in time. He would tell her that, but the princess has little interest in his opinion, and he has little interests in talking to her unnecessarily.

A large shadow cascaded over him. Link looked up to the Divine Beast Vah Medoh flying overhead. The Princess, the Rito Chieftain, and Champion Revali were up there right now. Link wondered just what the view was like, and even more, just how the Divine Beast could aid in Hyrule's fight. Unlike the Guardians, Link was not well briefed on the Divine Beasts besides name and location. What he had tried to learn lead to dead ends. Hyrule's expansive library sparsely contained anything of the ten thousand year old fight that preceded now. How the Champions thought they would attack Ganon when he appeared was beyond Link. Guess all he needed to know was that they would aid him.

A gale of strong wind made Link stumbled on his feet, just as a spiraling being sprung up within the gust, a member of the Rito Tribe. Wings spread out, the Rito hovered in the air before coming to a land on the wooden rail of the platform. Link lowered his arm from his face, scowling as he got a good glimpse at the bird would interrupted his solitude, the bird's arms folding across its chest, a smug look on its face. Of course, who else could it be. "Revali."

"Impressive, I know. Very few can achieve a mastery of the sky. Yet I have a made an art of creating an updraft that allows me to soar. It's considered to be quite the masterpiece of aerial techniques, even among the Rito."

Link rolled his eyes as Revali pointed to the sky. "Oh, so impressive, Revali. You can fly, such a masterpiece among birds. Just why would I care about your ability to fly?"

"With proper utilization of my superior skills, I see no reason why we couldn't easily dispense with Ganon." Revali leaped off his perch, then took his hands to his back, analyzing Link as he circled him. "Now then, my ability to explore the firmament is certainly of note… But let's not-pardon me for being so blunt-let's not forget the fact that I am the most skilled archer of all the Rito.."

And possess the biggest ego of them all too.

"Yet despite these truths, it seems that I have been tapped to merely assist you. All because you happen to have that little darkness-sealing sword on your back."

Link smirked (almost let go his laugh), as he, for the first time since pulling the sword, felt good having it. Imagine Revali, the "Master of Archery and the Sky," using the Master Sword to beat Ganon. It's so ridiculous, yet the best thing to come out of these "You are our Hero Link" business. Definitely the best thing coming out of being the princess' appointed knight.

He glanced as best he could back at it, then back at Revali. "Oh, someone sounds jealous."

He scoffed, turning away. "I mean, it's just...asinine." He blinked and looked back at Link. The Hylian figured that, by Revali's look, the bird had a plan, and if his beak could reflect it, Revali would return Link's former smirk. "Unless...you think you could prove me wrong? Maybe we should settle this one on one?"

The Hero was interested. A battle against the Rito Champion… That would shut this worm-eater up. "I think we shall."

The bird exaggerated a gasp as he looked away towards the landscape. "But where…? Oh, I know! How about up there?!" Link looked up to Vah Medoh, Revali's choice of an arena. That could work. But before Link could confirm, Revali sighed, dropping his arm. "Oh, you must pardon me. I forgot you having no way of making it to that Divine Beast on your own!" He turned away from Link, spreaded his wings, and shot off towards the Divine Beast, where he should've been in the first damn place. The bird looked back mid-flight, shouting "Good luck sealing the darkness!"

Link watched Revali disappear as he headed towards Zelda and Vah Medoh, shaking his head. "I hope one day the winds humble him. Such an asshole."