"We're getting there!" Revali shouted from the top of the canyon that snaked it's way toward Gerudo Desert, hopping off the craggy peak before gliding his way back down toward the group.

Urbosa sighed, "I told you… These canyons have been as much my home as the desert since I was a child."

Her lips turning unsafely, Zelda replied, "I think he just wanted to spread his wings."

"Or show off," Link presumed critically.

Zelda sighed, "I don't think you should, or need to, reduce everything he does to a proud streak."

As soon as she finished, Revali hit the ground, sliding to a stop before immediately poofing out his mantle in triumph, declaring, "How easy and quick this journey would be if it were only me, not bound to the ghastly earth as you all are!"

Link gave Zelda a droll glance, forcing her to turn away in defeat, shaking her head, "Thanks, Revali. Let's just get on through this pass and make it to the desert."

"Sooner we get there," Link concluded, "The sooner we get done, the sooner we can leave."

Urbosa eyed him crookedly, "I'll have you know, despite the sun and the heat, our hospitality is top notch, even when it comes to men. You may not be able to step foot in Gerudo Town, but the amenities within Kara Kara Bazaar are highly rated by all the tourist rankings."

She grinned, "If anything, this will give you and Revali a chance to bond over something."

"Excuse me?" "What?" came the simultaneous replies from both men.

Urbosa chuckled, raising her arms, "Well Daruk here hasn't the same prying eyes as you two; Gorons are more than welcome within our town. You two will be the odd ones out."

Revali clicked his teeth, "To think I would be interested in such lowly traits. That the sun burns your skin and has it tanned- such a revolting phenomenon! Why did the goddess not mold your people perfectly upon your conception?"

"Well, for a good few millennium, we were," Urbosa grinned, "It was our single males, our Hilarser, every thousand years, that oversaw these entire lands during its earliest history. Until evil coupled itself to the very thing that was this world's salvation for many centuries, the triforce of power built these mountains, dug these streams. For while tremendous power can certainly destroy, it can just as tremendously create."

She mused, "For so long, no other race was capable of such power, so the triforce simply remained amongst our Hilarser until it began treading among the other races of Hyrule every now and then. But it never stayed away for long."

"I often liked to have thought I might have possessed it," Urbosa admitted in an uncharacteristically vulnerable moment, though it was cut short by Revali's scoffing.

"Pfft, these are nothing but stories told among the Gerudo- of course your people would cast themselves the heroes," Revali concluded with a biting tone, "We do the same- well, save for the fact we neglect to include fairy tales like triforces."

Urbosa smirked, "Fairy tales…"

"Yes," Revali nodded condescendingly, "Fairy tales. Nothing more than little stories told to comfort children at night, or to frighten them, if you're also going to mention that Ganondorf character."

Not wanting to further mince words, Urbosa simply lowered her head, hiding a grin as her mind remained steadfast in her convictions. Revali, for his part, ceased as well, muttering something under his breath before returning to silence, allowing the conversation to move elsewhere.

"W-Well, uh," Zelda began, "Fairy tale or not, it makes for interesting stories, definitely. I loved reading mythology and tales of old growing up- I'm familiar with most of the Gerudo ones, and some of the Zora ones as well. The Gorons, uh-"

Daruk chuckled, slamming a fist into his chest, "We etch our heroes into the rock of the mountain, carved forever in the earth's bitter language that surpasses mere generations!"

"We do the same in the knights," Link nodded, "Well, I don't, but a lot of our armor passes from generation to generation, so knights will carve out messages or stories to accompany the armor forever."

"Well, I am familiar with the ones that made their way into books," Zelda sighed, "That one about Nabooru, whom Vah Naboris was named, was one of my favorites."

"Ah, the answer of a true Gerudo!" Urbosa replied happily, "It's not so easy for a single name to outlive eons, yet the great Nabooru's does. She gave her life to ensure the whole of our race could continue, when the Hilarser at the time chose to give up his single dictate. Instead of continuing the race, he chose to use his power for his own means, leading the Gerudo toward extinction, or at the very least, the genetic equivalent of such. Nabooru would have none of it, however, choosing to sabotage the Hilarser's plans, forcing him to remain where he could prevent our people from dying out."

Zelda nodded, "The greater good over the individual. Quite an important lesson for anybody so gifted to have royal blood."

"Indeed," Urbosa agreed, her eyes narrowing alongside her softening tone, "It's a lesson near and dear to myself."

Suddenly pepping up, she nodded, hoping to rally the others, "In any case, more important than stories and histories, we have a Divine Beast to examine and understand."

Mipha turned toward Zelda, "Do we have a plan once we enter the desert?"

"We do!" Zelda explained excitedly, "First, we need to retrieve Urbosa's thunder helm, which will prevent us from being incinerated by the Beast's lightning."

Mipha's eyes began to sink at the thought of such a thing, though it was Revali who took to his tongue to voice his exasperation, "Pardon me, but what in the goddess' name are we up against?!"

"No worries," Urbosa smiled, "So long as you remain at my side, no harm will come to you. I wouldn't have planned to have a Zora along, especially, were I not entirely confident in that fact."

Mipha wiped the sweat that had formed along her brow, content with taking the Gerudo's word for it at this point, though Revali only distastefully grumbled to himself, far more unsure of the events to come. Zelda reclaimed the lead, hoping to reassure the Company.

"Obviously, men are not allowed into Gerudo Town, so Link and Revali will have to wait at the Bazaar while we carry on," Zelda went on, looking toward Link, "Certainly you can trust my protection to these three, correct?"

Link shrugged, "I suppose so."

Daruk playfully punched at Link's arm, catching his attention as he boisterously asserted, "Despite any of my misgivings, I can assure you, I wouldn't let my nerves come between me and her safety."

Biting his lip, Link corrected, "Actually, I'm more happy to send Zelda off in Urbosa's hands, but…"

Daruk's shoulder slumped defeatedly, forcing a mounful smile along Link's face while Zelda continued, "Actually, the Bazaar does have an oasis, should Mipha be more comfortable remaining behind as well."

Her head perking up, Mipha replied, "Uh, I mean, I suppose. I might need to see how my scales react to the desert, first. I would hate to abandon you."

"Trust me," Link murmured weakly, "Were it not for the ultimate goal of bringing our races together, and for diverse conversation, Zelda would have only needed Urbosa for this journey."

The Gerudo happily threw an arm around Link's neck, pulling him against her side with a "GAH!" as she rapidly shook her fisted hand across his scalp, "Daw, what a charmer you are!"

Link managed to push himself out from her grasp, frowning angrily as he massaged his head, "I'm charming nobody! It's mere respect; I know who powerful people are, and I do my best to maintain their respect while extending my own."

"Pshaw, then why have you not extended the same courtesy to me?" Revali exclaimed curiously, "Can you not see that I'm the brightest among this Company?"

Link shivered at the thought, "I have more respect for Daruk's boots. Perhaps if we were devoid of all light, you'd be the brightest."

The Rito frowned, already expecting such a reply, leaving him with a measly, "Luckily, I can at least admire the others in their understanding of this fact. I needn't even ask for confirmation- I already know their answers. That's the confidence of Witwa, that all Rito aspire to attain!"

Running his head along his shoulders in exasperation, Revali muttered aloud, "Such a pity, truly."

Link rolled his eyes, the sweltering heat swirling through the parched canyon already beginning to force him into lethargy, "I'm not even bothering anymore."

He visibly strode away from Revali, keeping his distance while the others resorted to uncomfortable silence, all of them both equally tired of Revali's attitude, but also disapproving of Link's oft-reactive ways. They had all silently decided to simply change the subject on these occasions, besides Urbosa perhaps, who might have preferred something of a kerfuffle to take place.

"So, uh," Mipha spoke up, unsure of the atmosphere surrounding her, "Vah Ruto is quite difficult to approach, much less enter. From what I know about Naboris…"

Urbosa nodded, "Ah, I get it. To be honest, I haven't exactly thought that through. I suppose, given our quest's purpose to understand, and ultimately pilot these Beasts, now would be as good of a time to figure it out."

"This is all rather exciting!" Daruk exclaimed, rubbing his hands together, "Our journey is seriously beginning!"

Zelda grinned at his elation, "Vah Naboris is camel-shaped, with four massively tall legs. We've considered waiting for it to pass by one of the surrounding mountains and hopping atop it."

"-but, it's track is wholly random and impossible to predict," Urbosa frowned, clutching her chin in thought, "That method could take years. We also thought of constructing something of a mobile ladder, but again, resources and time."

"Not to mention technology," Link reminded cooly.

"That, too," Zelda groaned.

Revali, who'd been withholding his voice with great difficulty up until this point, finally broke his silence, "I just-! Gah! The answer sits right in front of your faces!"

"We've already mentioned scaling the mountains and hopping on," Link replied sarcastically.

"You pitiful little-… You have at your access a master of the skies! A man a cut above all the rest! I'll just zip up there, unhindered by any subservience to the ground, or gravity itself, and take hold of that Beast like I would any creature of the wild!" Revali proclaimed with a boisterous tone layered over his frustration.

Urbosa frowned, "As we mentioned, Vah Naboris exudes an infinite electrical storm; one that only the thunder helm can quell."

"So? Just have me wear it!" Revali answered as though it were the simplest answer.

"Are you insane?!" Urbosa retorted heatedly, "That helm has touched nothing but pure Gerudo blood since it was first cast-forged in the endless pits of Mount Agaat!"

With a pithy voice, Revali sneered, "T'would be atop one truly worthy were it given to me to-"

Urbosa made a mad dash toward the Rito, just barely caught by Daruk and Link, both of whom had to unleash all of their might to not even stop the Gerudo woman, Urbosa still managing the faintest of steps against their defiance. She growled angrily at Revali, who replied only with sincere shock that his words had been taken as they had been.

"I cannot believe such a plan- the easiest one- is causing such a hubbub!" he shouted aloud in disbelief.

Urbosa shouted, "You take that back!"

"Pardon?" Revali retorted, "I speak only the truth! I don't understand-!"

"Revali!" Zelda finally shouted, catching his attention, "I don't care if you don't understand! Apologize, now!"

The Rito stared at the princess with a furtive gaze, jerking his head back dismissively with a frustrated sneer before weakly conceding, "Fine. My apologies."

"And you better fuckin' mean it!" Urbosa challenged, her push finally beginning to loosen against the grips of a Goron and a knight, "Disparage my blood once more and I'll make sure your ashes never leave the sky."

"Urbosa!" Zelda shouted, attempting desperately to diffuse the situation.

Revali gave a swift cackling, as though it were some Rito call meant to be disparaging, before returning, "Big talk for one of those women whose bodies are destined only for the beds of mongrels."

Urbosa lunged forward, breaking through Daruk's and Link's hold, just nearly clutching Revali with as tight of a grip as she could muster, the Rito darting up into the air, leaving only a single feather trailing toward the ground as his wings fluttered powerfully upward. Urbosa let loose a primal growl as she grit her teeth, staring up at the shadowed figure in the sky.

"URBOSA! REVALI!" Zelda shouted as powerfully as she could despite the conflict, though her words were unheeded by the two as Revali simply remained aloft.

His head shook between his flapping wings, "I must say, you're absolutely terrifying when faced with the truth."

The Gerudo woman sneered up toward the haughty Rito, quickly directing her attention to the sandy wall that half-enclosed the Company, Link's eyes widening in realization as he shouted out, "Urbosa! DON'T-!"

Before he could leap toward her, Urbosa threw a fist directly into the wall, the sandstone chasm surrounding them immediately beginning to tremble beneath her might, as though an earthquake were reverberating across the canyon. Rito watched with confusion, only until the unmistakable sound of cracking, shattering rock blew past his ear, sending his eyes skyward to find a collection of stones descending right atop of him.

The copius amount of stone debris failed to discriminate, Urbosa's blast putting the Company in danger as well, though Daruk was quick to snatch up both Mipha and Zelda in his arms before dashing along through the canyon in a rush, Link right behind.

"Come on, now; come on!" the Goron rushed with a shaky voice as though trying to remain calm, "No danger, no danger!"

The cacophony of boulders came rumbling down, only to begin to die off as quickly as they'd come, leaving the others to worriedly return their attention to where Revali had been. To their surprise, as the thin layer of dust began to settle, they found Urbosa standing there, hand raised into the sky with Revali's chest feathers in her opposite hand, having grappled him as he descended to escape, and protected him from the collapsing shrapnel.

Despite that, Revali remained belligerent, even while in the hands of the woman who'd attempted to strangle him a moment earlier, his voice remaining stagnant in his resilience, "You-"

Urbosa frowned, "These are my lands, and you will show them respect. Understood?"

The Rito's face remained defiant, failing to answer long enough to earn another shout.

"Understood?!"

Revali's eyes fell backward in droll exasperation, sighing lightly before acquiescing, "Understood."

"Good," Urbosa finished, dropping Revali back to his feet, "I'm a well-adjusted individual, so you can expect the same from me beneath the peaks of Hebra."

Revali scoffed, "We'll see."

Clapping her hands together to pat away the dirt that had collected there, Urbosa approached the Company, most of them lost in shock as she strode along without a care.

"Come now; we have quite a ways to go before nightfall. Next stop, Kara Kara Bazaar," Urbosa reminded with a nod.

"R-Right," Zelda noted quietly, her heart still quite a bit a way from settling down as the cloud of dust had, "Everybody?"

With Revali bringing up the rear of the pack, the Company moved on in uneasy advance, though with a breath of relief that it had ended as almost nonchalantly as it had. If nothing else, it served as a reminded not to cross Urbosa's path at any point within the future.

A/N: A friendly reminder to any Revali fans- everybody has a character arc, even him; just be patient xD