The notes of an accordion echoed throughout the small, grassy plains atop of Cuho Mountain as the blue feathered Rito bard played his familiar tune. However, even with his song ringing in his head, the birdman still noticed the sound of crunching grass from someone landing behind him. He turned, viewing the Snowquill dressed Hylian that now stood behind him, inspecting the three pillared platform that had appeared some time ago.

"Seeing you here must mean you've finished your business in the Gerudo Desert?" Kass said with a smile, turning to face the knight that was now placing a hand on the side of one dark stoned pillar that stood around the platform.

"They weren't too hard," Link said, keeping his eyes on the inside of the three pillars as three maps appeared on their walls. With a nod, the Hylian stepped onto the platform, bringing out the Sheikah Slate in order to snap pictures of the maps and their included waypoints. "Just, um... unexpected."

"Ah, I see," Kass hummed happily as he took a few steps towards Link, who had just finished taking the pictures and was now inspecting his camera work on the screen. "However, I believe it's not out of your skill set to handle whatever comes your way, wouldn't you say?"

"If only it was just my skills I had to rely on," Link muttered as he placed the Slate on his hip. He stepped down from the stone structure, staring down at what seemed to be nothing as Kass raised a feathery eyebrow.

"I don't see Lady Zelda with you," Kass mentioned, glancing around for the short haired blonde. "Is everything-?"

"Fine," Link said quickly, not looking at the birdman, but at the looming winged Divine Beast in the distance. "We're- She's fine. She's in Rito Village checking in with Cecili at the Swallow's Roost. Everything's fine. Do you have a song for me? You mentioned another one when we met in the desert in regards to these."

Kass raised a brow, however it was clear Link didn't feel like talking at the moment. "In fact, I do have a song that mentions this monument. It's unfinished of course, but I believe only these verses are of use to you. They revolve around the Rito of old, Champion Revali." With a deep breath, he as well turned to face Vah Medoh as the notes began to echo on the mountain tops once again.

"Wind's ally soars the land of cloud. Medoh's Champion, swift and proud. The hero's power shall grow. Seek trials monuments show.

"One, shoot the flame dragon's horn. Two, race down a peak rings adorn. Three, shoot four targets to win.

"Champion, the trials begin!"

Kass sighed happily as he concluded his smile, staring pridefully at the mechanical beast sitting on its natural perch, shadowed by the shining morning sun behind it. Link sighed as well, though his was much more tired than his friends.

"Shoot some arrows, sled, and find a dragon... I can do that by tonight's end," he said, pulling the Sheikah Slate from his belt once again. "I guess I'll head out to the Flight Range first. Is Teba there?"

"He is, however," Kass began as Link started walking forward towards Rito Village. "All in one day? Surely you should rest a bit; Calamity Ganon is defeated, at least for a time."

"Sorry, Kass, but I dunno what I'm in for," Link said, his back now to the blue bird. "I have to go. Thank you for the song."

With a tap of the Slate, Link had vanished in a string of blue lights. Kass stared for a moment at the spot the Hylian stood in, watching as the grass swayed in the mountain breeze before raising his eyes slightly to view the village under the Divine Beast in the distance. Placing the accordion on his back, the Rito jogged forward before jumping off the edge of the cliff, soaring downward towards his hometown.

...

"Ah, Link!" a deep voice greeted the knight as he climbed up into the Flight Range. "Good to see you in one piece."

"Hello, Teba. Tulin," Link said with a small smile as he properly stood, watching the little white Rito waddle towards him in excitement. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Not necessarily," the older Rito said, setting a pair of bows he was holding in the corner of the small wooden hut. "It's been, what, a little over a week since you've visited last?"

"I guess it felt longer than that. A lot's happened," Link said, patting Tulin on the head before walking deeper into the hut, the wooden floor boards creaking beneath his soft wooly soles. "Do you mind if I, uh, take a few practice shots?"

"Of course, you're always welcome to show your skills here," Teba chuckled. He turned his beak to look down at his son, tilting his head towards Link as the knight prepared his own bow. "You should take notes, son. Remember, Link possibly matches up to even that of Champion Revali."

The little Rito excitedly followed behind the Hylian outside, watching as Link prepared an arrow as he stood on the edge of the wooden balcony. The knight stood for a moment, causing Teba to raise a feathery eyebrow.

"Everything alright, Link?" he called out as he watched Link stand out in the snow.

"Teba..." Link asked through the snow and winds of the range. "How do you... make things up with your wife?"

Teba blinked for a moment, thinking back to the last time he and Link had spoken. "Link, are you still fighting with Zelda after all this time? It's been over a week..."

"No, it's a little different this time," Link said, turning back slightly to face the tall white bird. "It just... feels like my life and my are merging. Or rather, I've never realized how merged they were. I can't tell what's real and what's not anymore."

Teba stood looking at the knight, the feathers of his Snowquill tunic rustling in the updrafts. "Well, Link, honestly you've probably seen more in battle than I have, now that I know you're a real Champion," he said, folding his wing-like arms in front of him. "However, when Medoh was causing a ruckus, I was completely tunnel visioned. You should remember back then, it was only a few months ago. Though I have to say, you have the same look I did when I had refused to come home."

"I'm tempted not to return after what happened last night," Link said, turning his gaze back to the winds. "Maybe I should just finish this alone."

"Now, Link," Teba said, walking out onto the open platform. He reached his wing out as he placed it on the knight's shoulder. "I don't know what's up between you and that princess, but I do know one thing: when I was gone, I worried my wife to the point she lost a few feathers. I never want to put her in that kind of situation again. Unfortunately, our warrior lives, and the lives we have with our family and friends, are all connected. So, if you're thinking of leaving because of whatever it is that's got you plucked up, maybe it's not the best idea. You're never really alone in these things."

Link grunted as he looked down at the targets in the range's cliffs, noticing the light blue Sheikah lights now surrounding them, showing their connection to the monk that guided him. "Can you see those?" he asked the birdman coolly. Teba furrowed his feathery eyebrows once again as he looked down at the normal, familiar targets.

"See what?" he asked. "The targets? Of course. You've really got your feathers ruffled today, don't you?"

Link's eyes became dull as he gave a small audible sigh. "Then I am in this alone," he mumbled, unable to be heard due to the raging winds of the rocky crevices. With a leap, and a cheer from Tulin, he dived into the gales before pulling out his paraglider. With his bow at the ready, one by one, the targets were destroyed. To the naked eye, one would have thought they had all been shot at the same time.

...

The Rito bard landed on the wooden flooring of the village, walking through its spiraling pathways before soon finding himself standing before the familiar banner decorated inn. Upon quick inspection, his eyes soon landed upon a short haired Hylian girl sitting at the table in the corner of the wooden structure, seemingly reading a few books she had kept on her. Filled with curiosity, he strolled in as casually as he could.

"Zelda, my dear!" he cheered happily as he entered the open-air building. "How wonderful it is to see you again!"

The girl, jolting at the sudden shock of her name being called out, looked up from her books as her eyes glanced around for the source of the voice. Her gaze soon landed upon the blue feathered accordion player as a smile grew on her face. "Kass! It's good to see you!" she said, matching the Rito's cheer. "I was sure I would see you soon. Did you already give Link his song?"

"As a matter of fact, it was only just moments ago!" the bard said happily. "Though, I was quite surprised to see that you weren't with him! I hope you two aren't at odds with each other once again, are we?"

"Not this time!" Zelda said with a smile, though it had grown smaller the longer she kept it on. She gently placed the book she was reading down onto the table as she glanced at the pages, her features almost seeming more saddened than joyful. "I've learned... there are just some things a person needs to do alone. As a friend once said: as he goes through his challenges, it's best to remind him that I am always here when he needs me. when he is ready to open up, or I see he is clearly in need, then I will step in to assist."

The Rito bard raised his feathery eyebrows, looking down at the girl who was now tracing the edges of her book with the tip of her finger. "That's a surprisingly mature answer, young princess," the bard responded with a smile forming on his beak. "Not to say that you aren't mature. It seems you're growing on your journey."

"You could say so," the girl said softly. "I just wish I didn't have to make so many mistakes in order to grow. I saw just last night how much my arrogance can hurt those around me. I wish I could learn from my mistakes."

"Well, Princess," Kass said with a gentle tone, "It seems as though you have learned. Just a few weeks ago, I doubt you would have this level of understanding. Back then you would have found a nice boulder to sit on as you sulked."

Zelda and Kass chuckled at the not-so-distant memory of their time in Goron City. With a sigh, the girl looked up at the large curved beak of the Rito. "Kass, how does one not over step their boundaries? I want to support Link in any way I can, however, I don't want to go too far as I've done before..."

"Well-" the bard began, however before the Rito could finish he was overtaken by a rainbow burst of feathers. Zelda watched with surprised eyes, noticing that each color of feathers had a respective little body to it before realizing that they belonged to the little Rito that now sat atop Kass's large body.

"You're back! You're back!" the children cried happily as they jumped and circled the now laughing Rito adult, trying to comfort and show love to each and every one.

"I am, I am! Hello, my children," he chuckled as he tried to regain control. "Now, now! I was only gone for a few days this time! Not much should have changed in that time span. Now all of you relax! This isn't our home you know," he added on as he noticed the quick, stern gaze of the Rito innkeeper. "My apologies, Cecili!"

The innkeeper sighed as she shrugged her feathers in defeat. "This seems to happen every time you come in here for a visit, Kass," she said disapprovingly. "However, it would look awful for business if I banned them from saying hello to their father in here."

"I appreciate the concern," Kass said happily before standing, a few of his children on his shoulders. "Let us stop causing a ruckus for Madam Cecili, shall we? Now, why is it you've come all this way instead of waiting for me to come up to the nest?"

"Mother instructed us to inform you that when you returned next, she would have your favorite dinner planned!" the Rito child on his shoulder said. With a smile, the bard chuckled.

"Well, let's not keep your mother waiting then," he said cheerfully. As some of the children began to waddle back out the inn's entrance, Kass turned, to look back down at a happily watching Zelda. "You see, my dear Zelda, sometimes it's the smallest of gestures that allows one to know that they are loved, and never alone."

"And when do I know if I... must step in?" she asked almost nervously, remembering Urbosa's words from a few days ago. The Rito sat on the question for a moment before the smile returned to his beak.

"Follow your heart, not your mind," he said. "It will tell you when it's time."

With that, the Rito walked out with the rest of his children following behind, leaving Zelda once again sitting alone in the inn. Small gestures, the girl thought to herself as she returned to her book. What's a small gesture I could do for Link to show him... that I'm here for him?

...

A very segmented chapter I know! It may be segmented and short, but there's still a few things to take away from it! I wanna see some thoughts in these comments, or if you're in the Discord, I wanna see some ideas in that discussion tab! These two have had a lot of growth!

Link and Zelda have had a major shift since the beginning of the series, however just because they've grown, they certainly aren't perfect. Link seems to be contemplating a lot right now, but will he make the same mistakes he did back in the mini Yiga arc?

Also, streams are back! I've had a crazy hectic time these past few weeks but we will be returning to schedule! This Friday we will be streaming The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ~ Master Mode where I don't use a shield or Daruks Protection!

Tune in at 6PM MST this Friday! I'll answer any questions about the story thus far and maybe about future stuff!

Kenny Boi