Soft, golden eyes darted back and forth as a pair of narrowed emerald watched a pair of unconcerned, sky-blue. Mipha still struggled to figure out exactly why Revali chose such poor seating every time they played the card game they had bought back in Rito Village. Every single time, he would sit next to Link, even if it meant putting himself in an even worse situation.

This particular worse situation being Urbosa's presence on the Rito Champion's other side.

It was like he was asking for a war on two fronts.

Mipha, on the other hand, always chose to sit next to her fiance, as he refused to use any of the offensive cards he had stored up on her. She had even watched him draw cards when she knew that he had cards to play. He had purposefully lost to Revali a few times due to that.

It was rather sweet…

And it was also her best chance of winning, especially with Medli on her other side.

The Zora Champion's attention was diverted even further as she noticed a small smirk playing on Urbosa's face as the corner of Link's mouth twitched ever so slightly.

"What was that?" Revali asked irritably.

"What?"

"That thing you just did with your- You just did it again!"

Link said nothing, regaining his normal stoic composure as he placed an ordinary card onto the pile.

"What are you playing at?"

"I think he's playing the same game we are," the Gerudo Champion replied, the smirk never leaving her face.

Revali grumbled incoherently as he played a card of his own.

"I don't understand this game," Daruk muttered as he stood up, moving carefully around the wooden table they had settled around so that he could sit behind Urbosa.

The Gerudo Champion played her card swiftly before collapsing her hand back into a single pile and placing them face down in front of her.

"Here." Thankfully, Medli had become more comfortable holding and placing her cards, meaning that the odds of her growing flustered and dropping all of her cards had diminished significantly. Of course, even though she no longer inadvertently revealed her cards to everyone else, she still did not have much of a head for strategy.

Mipha gave Link a long and hard look before taking her turn. "Am I going to regret this?"

Link shrugged as he reversed the order of play.

Revali said nothing as Mipha drew a card.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Medli gasped as she took her turn. "I thought I wouldn't be able to… oh dear." Medli was forced to draw as Urbosa once again reversed the order of play.

"Can I have a turn?!"

"No."

"Ya sound like children," Daruk rumbled as he watched the four play.

"That's not a terrible thing," the Gerudo Champion stated. "Sometimes, I think we're all wound just a bit too tight."

That was something Mipha could agree with. The Zora Champion knew she had been on edge for weeks nearly and had nearly broken down several times as a result. She was surprised that she hadn't cracked mentally as of yet.

"That's true." Daruk stroked his beard as Link played his card. "That one doesn't do anythin,' right?"

"Nope," Link answered.

"For once," Revali growled as he finally took his turn again.

"And what does that one do?"

"You'll see when I play it." Urbosa smirked when Revali glared at her. Mipha covered her mouth with her hand as she watched the two. Though it had been somewhat frustrating to see them carry on in the beginning, something about it was comforting. Then again, maybe it was just the fact that she was stressing about the final battle. No longer was it on the horizon. Rather, it was bearing down on them all with a terrifying speed. To make that impending sense of dread even worse, this battle that they'd been fighting would be against an opponent they'd already fallen to, before. .

Yet, despite all of that, her friends still found a way to carry on as though nothing was different than normal.

Well, that wasn't quite true. Everyone was getting along, even if it was in their unique ways. She couldn't say that had been true at the start of their journey.

That, in particular, was comforting to see.

Several more rounds followed, with Revali having the opportunity to get back at both Link and Urbosa; however, it wasn't enough to secure his victory.

"I did it!" Medli cried as she nearly threw her last card onto the pile in excitement. This was the first time she had managed to win a game so Mipha could understand the excitement. With Urbosa's presence as well as Link and Revali's rivalry, it had been a particularly brutal round. The trio had gotten so intense that she was sure that she was the only one who had actually noticed Medli's dwindling supply of cards. The Zora Champion had considered letting the others know, but it had occurred to her that a win for the Rito girl might be nice.

Besides, she could always try being a little less forgiving next time. The others looked like they were able to make it through the game without harming their relationships overall. In some strange way, it was like they enjoyed it. If she were to be quite honest, she enjoyed seeing the competitive side of Link resurface and Revali's overreactions were quite amusing, especially since he had learned to calm down. Perhaps she might find some enjoyment in contributing to the game that way as well.

Mipha couldn't help but notice a distant look on her fiance's face as he finished cleaning up the game and everyone else wandered away. She considered trying to speak to him there and then, but she knew him well enough to know that all it would take was one stray look from someone within the group to cause him to clam up.

That was assuming he chose to speak whatsoever.

"Would you walk with me?"

Link came back to the present, staring at her uncomprehendingly for a second before answering her with a nod.

"Thank you."

They left the alcove within the base of the Great Deku Tree, with Mipha taking ahold of Link's arm as they crossed the uneven pathway created by the tree's massive roots. Ordinarily, she might have been able to guide him more effectively than he did her; however, the grove was filled with hundreds of tiny insects that glowed in the darkness. No single one of them was very bright, but together, they created just enough to make it difficult for her eyes to adjust.

She couldn't figure out how Link was managing either, though he had spent years learning to travel across a variety of terrains. That must have had something to do with it.

"I have been meaning to ask you something." The feeling of grass beneath her feet was a pleasant change from the bark that she had been standing on for the past few hours. "What really happened during the Trial?" The dark of night hid his eyes well, but she could still see that she was the center of his focus.

"… I almost died."

Mipha said nothing, waiting for him to continue on his own. He had been close to death far too many times for that to be what had stuck out to him.

"… Then, I saw my dad."

The Zora Champion stopped, turning toward her fiance quickly. "What?!" Immediately, she regretted allowing her surprise to get the better of her. This was an incredibly sensitive topic with someone prone to shutting down.

"…"

"Did he say anything?"

"Just that I shouldn't give up."

Mipha very quickly stamped out the various doubts that had started to take root in her mind. Though she had rarely seen it in him, everyone had moments in which they experienced weakness or considered giving in. "I'm glad you didn't. And, I'm glad you got to speak with your father… I know how much he means to you."

"Me too," he agreed quietly.

Having the opportunity to speak to someone that had already passed was something that sounded almost too good to be true. Even so, she had witnessed many strange things in her journey and had even interacted with the Goddess herself. Who was to say what was possible and what wasn't?

As Mipha admitted to herself the possibility that Link had spoken to his father, she allowed herself to entertain the idea of such a conversation with her mother. There were so many questions she'd always wanted to ask after the late queen's death. Regardless, she doubted she would be blessed with such an opportunity until her own passing. Link's experience had likely served some sort of grander purpose.

Then again, she had no idea what the future would bring.

"You weren't too worried?"

"I was a little concerned," Mipha answered as they reached the end of the grove. Turning left, they continued along the edge of the clearing, the Zora Champion still holding onto her fiance's arm just in case. "But Urbosa and Revali helped to keep me busy."

"Good."

"It's sweet of you to be worried about me."

"…"

Mipha smiled as he remained silent. She knew, even without seeing, that she had made him feel incredibly awkward. Urbosa's pranks were often not quite to her taste, but she had to admit that there were a few times where she could understand the appeal. "Link?"

The Zora Champion could feel his eyes on her.

"I know that we have the most important battle in front of us and that there are no guarantees, but… would you talk about the future with me?"

Link tilted his head in interest as they continued their stroll around the grove.


"You were trained by Master Revali?! Simply incredible! You must be particularly skilled with a bow!"

Yunobo watched the absurdly tall, scarlet-scaled Zora continue praising the white-feathered Rito archer lavishly. The Rito, for his part, appeared caught between being uncomfortable with the attention and being quite pleased with the recognition he was receiving. Apparently, it wasn't unusual for the Zora representative to behave in such a way, as one of his guards was doing a very poor job of masking her amusement with the situation.

"Is he always like that?" Yunobo asked Impa, who sat cross-legged on a pillow beside him. Usually, he would have chosen to stick with his brothers; however, he was the only Goron present. Being as large as they were, Impa had informed them that only one or two would fit comfortably. So, he had chosen the next best thing, which was to sit next to the elder and her attendant.

"Only when there is nothing serious to attend to," the Sheikah elder replied. "Prince Sidon can be a bit… much when you first meet him but he has a habit of growing on just about everyone he meets."

"I guess that makes sense."

"Most people are drawn to sincere enthusiasm and encouragement."

The Goron couldn't understand what she was getting at. The way he had been raised, "encouragement" was his brothers telling him he needed to start stepping up or receiving long (and sometimes harsh) lectures from his guardian about his lack of backbone.

As he watched the Zora Prince continue what was becoming an impromptu speech, he couldn't help but smile. Most of the Rito's discomfort had disappeared behind a puffed out chest and a smirk. He couldn't help but wonder how his childhood might have been different if he'd had a friend like that.

"As you can see, there is a reason that he makes friends wherever he goes."

"Yeah."

"Perhaps you should try speaking to him," Impa stated with a chuckle. "It may do you some good."

Yunobo felt himself grow mildly flustered at the thought. How was a person even supposed to respond to something like that? "I'm not so sure-"

As though summoned by their conversation, the towering Zora appeared next to him. "Hello!"

"Hey…" the Goron replied weakly.

"Your name is Yunobo, correct?"

"Uh… yeah."

"Is something the matter?" Prince Sidon asked with a tilt of his head, causing his massive tailfin to sway slightly.

"No! Not exactly." The Goron tried to think of some way to explain himself that wouldn't offend the Zora Prince. He found that of all of the representatives that would be joining Impa for dinner, Sidon was probably his favorite, aside from Impa. "Uh…"

"He's just a little shy," the Sheikah elder stated with another chuckle.

"Oh!" The Prince placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head slightly. "Forgive me. I wouldn't have approached so suddenly if I had known."

"It's alright. Nice to meet ya, Prince Sidon."

"Please, there is no need for formalities between friends."

"Friends?" He was surprised, to say the least. This was his first time meeting the Zora Prince yet he was being referred to as something more than an acquaintance.

"Oh yes!" The Prince gave him a large, toothy grin, his face lighting up with excitement. "Impa has told me all about how you helped Link and Daruk to reclaim Vah Rudania. Daruk is an incredible warrior and friend of the Domain and Link is engaged to my sister. Any friend or family of theirs is a friend of mine!"

"Ya know Gramps?"

"Yes, I do!" The grin returned as Sidon spread his arms wide. "He fought alongside us to help protect our home! I am honored to have the chance to meet his grandson."

"Thanks," Yunobo replied with an uncertain smile. Now that he was talking to the Prince, it was far less awkward than he had imagined. That didn't mean he had any idea how he was supposed to respond to Sidon's unbridled enthusiasm and praise. "I heard ya helped Link and yer sister take a Divine Beast back too."

"I did very little," Sidon replied as his smile faltered. "I was only able to help carry Link across the Reservoir during their battle. While they were fighting to reclaim the Beast from within, I was busy arriving late to help my people fight off another threat." The Prince sighed as he placed his hands on his hips.

For some reason, the Goron felt even more uncomfortable as he watched the Zora Prince stare at the ground in consternation while his guards looked on, clearly frustrated by the Prince's words. "That's not what I heard," he offered. "Impa told me ya played an important role in winnin' the battle."

"I wish I -"

"Now, Prince Sidon," Impa interrupted, "according to Urbosa and Captain Bazz, if you had not stepped in and put yourself at risk as you had, there is no telling how the battle might have turned out."

"… Thank you."

"I had to carry Link into battle myself." Yunobo was surprised to hear Teba speak up. Last he'd known, the Rito archer had remained on the other side of the tent. At some point, he must have crossed the room unobtrusively as he was now standing among the group. "Once we engaged Vah Medoh, Revali and I acted as decoys for him while he calmed it. To carry him the entire time..." Teba turned partially away, folding his wings as he stared off at something only he could see. "You'd have to be an exceptional swimmer," he stated. His expression, as well as stance, dared the Zora Prince to argue with him.

Silence fell over the group as they gave Sidon a moment to overcome his doubts.

Yunobo hadn't had the opportunity to get to know the Rito, but he couldn't help but think he was cool. From what the Goron knew, Teba had been Revali's one and only student before the Calamity had struck, which made him wonder what the Rito Champion had been like. Were they at all similar?

The entrance to the tent was pulled aside by a statuesque woman with long scarlet hair. She held the tent flap, ushering in a small girl with equally scarlet hair.

"I apologize for being late," the girl stated as she crossed the tent, followed by the woman that must have been her attendant.

"All is forgiven, Lady Riju," Impa replied graciously. "I meant for this to be a casual dinner so that we may get to know each other better before the final battle."

"Well met, Lady Riju," Sidon greeted, spreading his arms wide in a welcoming gesture.

Teba and Yunobo merely nodded.

"Thank you, Prince Sidon," Riju responded before nodding to Teba and Yunobo respectively. "A casual dinner sounds lovely after the last few days."

"Glad to hear it. Dorian, if you would."

Impa's guard appeared next to her, picking up the elder and cushion together. He began calling out orders and, in short order, a table was brought into the center of the pavilion with chairs set around it. Dorian set Impa in a chair as the other guests took their seats. Both Sidon and Riju had to argue with their guards to convince them to take a seat with them. Riju had to go so far as to imply that Buliara was rude to not accept Impa's invitation.

Impa addressed them as everyone finally got settled. "I had meant for the Champions to join us, but it seems that they have disappeared again." The Sheikah elder frowned disapprovingly as she reminded herself of the Champions' previous disappearance. Apparently, she became rather vexed when she didn't know the movements of everyone she had her eye on.

"Perhaps this is for the better." All eyes turned to the Zora Prince as he set a hand on his chin. "I, for one, know that I would have spent most of the meal speaking to my brother and sister if they were here. This way, we may get to know each other better."

"I agree. There are still so many questions I still wish to ask Lady Urbosa."

After a moment of thought, Yunobo found that he too would have spent the meal talking to his grandfather and Link, assuming the Hylian Champion wasn't too preoccupied with The Zora. Then again, if half of what he'd heard since joining the army that Impa had started to develop, these people were as good as family as well. At the very least, he did need to get to know Prince Sidon better. Link had been accepted into his tribe, making him family. If Sidon was Link's family, then Sidon was also a brother.

The line of logic did help to set him at ease a bit.

Food was quick to be served, with a few rock roasts set before Yunobo as delicacies native to each race's homeland were placed around the table.

"So, has King Dorephan finished compiling a guest list for the wedding?" Impa asked as everyone finished expressing gratitude for their meals. Yunobo listened attentively as he bit into his rock roast. He tried to keep the audible crunching of rock to a minimum as he was genuinely interested in his brother's life.

That being said, if his grandfather's journal had taught him anything, it was that maintaining a proper diet was extremely important.

"Not yet." For some reason, The Goron had thought that Prince Sidon was beyond irritation so he was unprepared to see the Prince's eyes narrow as he covered his mouth with a hand. Interestingly enough, his guards also silently expressed irritation. "My father believes that we should have a festival open to all the races to celebrate. The Council wishes to be more… selective, in who may attend."

"That does sound like the Council." Sidon's irritation appeared to abate somewhat as the Sheikah elder chuckled.

"And what are your thoughts?" Lady Riju asked as she cut into a small steak.

"Assuming that Link and my sister are okay with it, I would like for it to be open to all who wish to attend. I think it would be an excellent opportunity to improve race relations."

"Well, if it is decided that outsiders are welcome, it would be an honor to attend."

"I will certainly ask my father to send you an invitation."

Silence fell over the group as everyone took an opportunity to take several mouthfuls of food. The Goron couldn't help but notice that, unlike the rest of the guests, the Rito archer was poking at his food. He considered asking what was wrong but had no idea what was considered polite among the other races. His grandfather probably would have asked what was wrong.

"When exactly did this proposal occur?" Teba asked as he continued pushing food around on his plate. Despite being the one that had asked, he didn't look terribly interested in the response.

"I am not entirely sure," Sidon answered as he tapped his cheek with a finger. "He was presented with the armor shortly after the Domain; however, he didn't accept until just recently… I think?"

"Armor?" Riju looked as surprised as Yunobo felt to hear Buliara speak up. "Does it happen to be made of black and blue scales with plates made of a silvery metal?"

"That's it!"

"He put it on just before leaving with Master Revali to help Lady Urbosa retake Vah Naboris."

"Master Revali helped to take another Divine Beast?"

Both Riju and Sidon peered over at Teba with renewed interest as they heard something akin to excitement in his voice. Off to his side, the Goron noticed that Impa was wearing a small smile as she continued eating.

"How?"

"We don't have the exact details," Riju replied calmly. "I had to leave the Gerudo Desert shortly after informing them that Lady Urbosa was in danger."

"I would imagine his skills certainly played a part in the victory. From what my sister told me, it took both her and Link to defeat Waterblight."

"Yeah. Even gramps needed Link's help to kill Fireblight." Yunobo wasn't even aware that he had spoken up until the last word had left his mouth.

"From what Bludo tells me, you played a vital role yourself."

"I'm not real sure about that," Yunobo replied with a nervous chuckle. "I was just tryin' ta stay out of the way." All he could remember was hastily blocking one blow that had nearly killed his grandfather and Link. Everything else was an adrenaline-induced blur that had only ended after the three of them had returned to Goron City.

He had never figured out that had happened, especially with the two Champions out cold.

"Do not sell yourself short, my friend. It takes quite a bit of courage to charge into battle."

Once again, Yunobo had no idea how to respond to the Zora Prince. Sure, Bludo had insisted that his decision to follow after Gramps and Link was a moment of courage but it certainly hadn't felt like it at the time. He had been so frightened that he had barely been able to think, let alone force himself to move.

"That is true, especially when 'charging into battle' involves jumping into a volcano."

The Goron was starting to think that Impa was trying to tease him. Why else would she continue to draw attention to him?

"You jumped into a volcano?! You have to tell me more!"

"Uh…" Again, Yunobo noticed Teba, who was glaring down at his plate as he started shrinking in on himself just a bit. "Ya know, I don't remember much about it." Seeing the Rito looking so out of sorts made the Goron even more uncomfortable. Back home, when a brother was upset, whoever was around did their best to address the issue. He wasn't comfortable trying to confront the Rito, but maybe there was something he could do to ease the tension. "Y-yer name's Teba, right?"

"What about it?"

"It's nice ta meet ya."

Teba's glare softened somewhat as his eyes flicked up to meet his. "Likewise."

"Ya were trained by Master Revali, yeah?"

"That's right."

"I've been meaning to ask about that," Riju stated as she cut gracefully through her steak. "A while back, we were visited by a Rito bard by the name of Kass. In his stories, he mentioned that Master Revali had taken an apprentice under his wing. Were you that apprentice?"

"Of course," Teba answered, his chest puffing out slightly. "I was his only apprentice."

"Oh?" Once again, Sidon had allowed the conversation to take its course and was following along contentedly. His patience and courtesy were becoming more evident by the moment. "I would think that all the aspiring warriors in the village would try to earn the right to train under him."

"Despite his fame and skills, Revali preferred to keep to himself," Impa clarified.

"Yeah. He basically lived at the shooting range." All expression faded from the Rito's face as he considered the barely touched plate in front of him. "If I'm remembering correctly, he only went into the village when he needed something or when summoned by the Elder. Otherwise, he did his best to stay away from everyone else."

"Did he not like people?"

"I don't know," Teba replied with a shrug. "In the years I knew him, he would say a lot but do the opposite. I thought he hated the villagers but… I'm not so sure anymore."

Sidon leaned back, rubbing his cheek as he looked to the black-scaled guard next to him. "You know, we have a member of the council named Seggin -" the knight looked over at him stoically. "While many people find him to be quite harsh and difficult to be around, he does truly care for his family and those under his command." Yunobo couldn't help but feel that Sidon was having another conversation with the knight. The Prince was giving him a knowing smile and though nothing showed on his face, his fellow knight was watching him carefully. "He has quite a lot of trouble showing that affection, especially for his son. My father and I have to listen closely to hear what he is really saying when speaking in order to discern what he truly means." The Zora Prince finally looked back to Teba "Perhaps Master Revali has a similar issue."

"That would explain a lot."

"Is he normally unpleasant?" Riju asked with a confused frown.

Teba snorted. "He had an issue with pretty much everyone around him."

"Interesting," the girl replied thoughtfully. "He wasn't the most polite or respectful when I met him, but he wasn't exactly unlikeable."

"Medli may have something to do with that."

"Women can wield considerable influence over men," Impa stated in agreement. "She has been very good for him from what I understand."

Yunobo finally started to relax as the conversation left him behind. He was able to sit and listen as the group discussed the sister of a Rito bard, exchanged their own stories of the Divine Beasts and their other battles, and even discussed the cultural norms of their peoples. He was asked a few questions, to which he gave the shortest possible answer before picking his rock roast back up and continued munching on it as he listened and watched attentively. He couldn't say he understood the others that much, but he didn't regret his decision to attend the dinner.

Maybe, they could all be great friends.


The crisp, morning air hung heavy over the glade, making breathing a bit more of a laborious process than usual. Regardless, it wasn't too much of a bother as the Great Deku Tree's scarred exterior had a twisted, knotted pathway toward the top. Though he would have preferred a slightly more strenuous activity, the uneven trail did require enough of him to satisfy his need to move.

Holding out an arm in front of himself, Link ascended higher, pushing his way through a few thin branches and leaves that stood between himself and the top of the tree.

Oddly enough, the top of the tree was a flat surface extending even above the branches, giving him a perfect view of the surrounding kingdom. As Link turned South, toward Hyrule Castle, he noticed that he wasn't alone.

Revali stood, wings folded behind his back as he stared out over the land that separated them from the Castle. The wind had picked up, ruffling his navy blue feathers but he either hadn't noticed or hadn't cared. Just as he either didn't notice or didn't care as Link came to stand beside him.

Both warriors stood silently, gazing toward the end of their journey. The calmness of the glade, the warmth, and shining sun, and even the presence of a companion wasn't enough to subdue the sense of foreboding the Hylian Champion felt as he witnessed the malice swirling around the Castle.

"So… this is it."

"Yeah," Link replied quietly.

"…"

"…"

"Then you and Mipha are tying the knot."

Link frowned. What exactly was going through the Rito's mind? "Yeah."

"Then I suppose we all go our separate ways, huh."

He couldn't deny it was a possibility, though he found it unlikely after a few seconds of thought. Though he wouldn't consider himself a social genius, he believed he was right in thinking that the small group would never really fall apart. There were a lot of unanswered questions, like how Mipha and Urbosa would become reintegrated into their societies, how the kingdom and each of the races would recover, and what role they all would be playing in that recovery. None of that changed what they had all gone through over the last few months. They had traveled together, fought together, faced death together, and had each other's backs through thick and thin. To him, those kinds of bonds were not the kind that would simply disappear once the battle was won.

"I don't think so."

"You don't think so?" Revali asked skeptically as he finally looked over at Link.

"Nope."

"… Are you really going to make me ask?" the Rito Champion grumbled.

"We've been through too much."

Revali was silent for a moment before uttering a "hmph" that sounded oddly like a chuckle. "I suppose that's true." The Rito Champion fell silent for a moment. "You know, I've spent a lot of time thinking about what comes next… assuming we survive."

Link tilted his head in interest as he considered the implications of his current situation. Though his and Revali's relationship had improved drastically, he wouldn't have thought that they would be having a discussion of this nature. He decided it would be best to remain as quiet as possible so as to not inadvertently offend his fellow Champion.

"I'm still not sure what I want to do," he continued as he folded his wings across his chest. "Of course, there are new skills to master but…" The archer sounded frustrated that he couldn't put his thoughts properly into words.

"You don't just want to fight."

"… Look at me, talking to you of all people about this," Revali chuckled ruefully as he spread his wings. He sighed as he returned his wings to their former position.

"Medli?"

"What about her?"

Link gave the Rito Champion a pointed look. Obviously, his meaning had to be clear. While Revali wouldn't have admitted it outright, it was clear that he had the intent to court her, if he hadn't already. Though Mipha and Urbosa had tried to pry more details out of the two concerning their date in the Rito Village, neither could come to a solid conclusion as to how it had gone. Even so, everyone had noticed how the two had a habit of sticking close together during their travels when they weren't wandering off for some alone time.

"You're impossible, you know that?"

Link nodded, maintaining his expression.

Revali gave an exasperated sigh as he relented. "Look, don't go spreading this around but I'm thinking about... courting her," the Rito Champion turned back toward the castle, silently observing the large swirls of malice, "assuming I survive, that is."

Unsure of what else to do, Link set a hand on his comrade's shoulder. It was quite uncomfortable, considering how much taller than Link he was, but the Hylian paid the awkwardness no mind. He also chose to ignore the stink eye Revali was currently giving him out of the corner of his eye. "You should do it."

"What does that mean?"

"You should court her." The Hylian Champion was sure that Medli hadn't been the only thing that had inspired many of the changes that he had noticed in his fellow Champion but he was certain she had been an inspiration for many of them. He had also noticed that Medli had changed quite as well, becoming a little more confident and organized, even if she was still a klutz. Hopefully, they would continue to be good for each other in the days to come.

"… Maybe I will." Revali was silent for a few seconds before looking down at Link again. "You can let go now."

The Hylian Champion let his hand fall.

"By the way, I forgot to say congratulations on your engagement. I still think Mipha's settling, but I suppose it's not by much."

"Thanks." Coming from anyone else, it would have been an insult. From Revali, it was progress.

Neither one could think of anything else to say. So they simply stood, observing the final destination of their quest as the sun rose. After what must have been half an hour, the Hylian Champion finally spoke. "We should go."

"You're right, but there's one last score we need to settle."

Link tilted his head in interest as uncharacteristic light shone in the Rito's emerald eyes.


"Dorian, when was the last time you slept?" Impa sat on her pillow as her attendant carried her through the camp to a large clearing in the middle of the Hyrulean camp. The option of a meal in her private quarters had been available to her; however, she had insisted on eating with the rest of the army, much to Dorian's dismay.

He worried after her health far too much, especially after the destruction of the Yiga. Besides, it would do her some much needed good to see the sunlight and smell the fresh air.

"I may not be as young as I used to be, but I can handle a few days without res.t" Though he had retired after Impa had the night before and had risen before she had for the past few days, the Sheikah guard didn't look quite as exhausted as she would have expected. Then again, from what little he had told her of his days with the Yiga, she wouldn't have been surprised to find out that those days had been far harsher than the last few days had been.

"I have half a mind to send you to bed right now."

"You could try."

"Have you met Prince Sidon?" she asked idly as he set her down at a table.

"You know that I have."

"Then you know it wouldn't take much to convince him to help me."

Dorian chuckled. "I've heard he's formidable, but I see that he lacks my experience."

"He also lacks your exhaustion," she pointed out. "Besides, he's only part of the plan. I haven't revealed my secret technique."

"Your secret technique?"

"Daddy!"

Dorian's head snapped around as two girls barreled toward them. "Koko?! Cottla?! What are you both doing here?!" The aged warrior knelt and caught them as they closed the distance.

"I had a couple of Rito warriors pick them up to come to visit you. Don't worry." Impa smiled comfortingly as the man sent her a glare. "We have plans to send them home before nightfall. And, yes, there is a plan to evacuate them should anything happen. Now, please, go get some rest."

Her longtime guard and friend clenched his jaw. "Thank you."

She nodded, shooing the single father off, watching with a smile as he struggled to keep up with his daughters' energy. The smile became a chuckle as Koko immediately started lecturing her father on the importance of taking care of himself.

The Sheikah elder closed her eyes and tilted her head back, enjoying the fresh air and warmth. She was used to only traveling outdoors when absolutely necessary, leaving her little time to simply sit and enjoy the world.

It seemed that the Goddess had other plans for how she would be spending the next few hours though.

Impa frowned as several loud voices disrupted the quiet and Midna, who had silently followed her and Dorian from the pavilion, started barking like mad. Opening her eyes, she caught sight of the Champions emerging from a fading, golden light.

The five warriors looked just as confused as the surrounding soldiers; however, their wolf didn't care as she crashed into Link before he could even recover. Link didn't mind though, as he sat back up and pet the wolf as he looked around.

As the group found their bearings, Impa found herself with several questions. Taking the few seconds she had before they approached, she made a mental note of her questions.

As they presented themselves before her, she asked the question she found to be most pertinent. "Lady Urbosa, is there a reason you are drenched?"


A/N: I've been on a roll lately (like 3k words done on the next chapter kind of roll). It may still take a bit more time to finish the last few chapters though, so don't have any expectations of me (not that you did anyway).