They'd been on the road for a good day and a half when they were besieged by a flock of Keese. It was so large, initially she'd thought it was a cloud, but as it grew closer, no cloud made those horrible screeching sounds.

Paya was by her side in an instant, preparing to slash at them while Zelda held up a shield. She felt useless, where was her power now? Searching inside of herself for that power she felt an ember of it. Though, it would be a bad move to pass out, but she could summon lesser arrows or… a pulse?

Zelda attempted to let a pulse of energy out to at least stun the keese… and it sort of worked. As the swarm dove, the first half was stunned in the air, while the rest of them kept on their path. There were a few collisions, but for the most part it was still intact. She held up the shield again, and waited for the inevitable impact… that never came. Paya was good, bet even she wasn't–

She glanced up to see a pink blur flying through the air. It fired volleys of arrows, never standing still. A Rito. The newcomer pared down the swarm by a third, while the rest of the party helped. Zelda did her best to help as well, using a spear to stab or beat any that got in range. Paya was also going on a rampage, shurikens and throwing knives pelting the shrinking flock.

Eventually the survivors cut their losses and left. Zelda contacted a tower with her sheikah slate to be on the lookout. Perhaps a flying Guardian could be dispatched to take care of that flock.

The pink Rito finally slowed down for Zelda to see her clearly. She was small for a Rito, and young, judging from the fluff. Her eyes were sharp and piercing.

"Hello, Princess Zelda," the Rito said, approaching Zelda, "I am Kadli, the chosen pilot of Vah Medoah."

Zelda was beginning to see why Impa had insisted she come.

…

She arrived in the village proper with her honor guard of the Divine Beast pilot. Kadli was very clearly an adolescent Rito. for her to be the pilot… She glanced up. What were the goddesses thinking?

She was brought to Impa's makeshift workshop, where Impa was soldering erratically. Zelda glanced around to see why no one had taken away the high powered tools from the clearly distressed woman. The few Rito guards and lab assistants avoided eye contact. Oh– so they didn't want to deal with her. Great.

"Impa," Zelda called. Impa didn't respond. "Impa."

With the instance of the second call, the scientist jumped and dropped the component she had been working on. It shattered on impact and Impa cursed loudly. She then cursed again when she saw who was addressing her.

"Your Highness!" She started, going to kneel, forgetting the shattered part on the ground. It all happened too quickly for Zelda to stop her. She cursed yet again when her thinly clad knee was injured by the shards, standing immediately, nearly knocking the still burning torch off the work bench.

Zelda ran forward to grab and steady Impa. Impa froze and Zelda used that opportunity to turn off the torch. She led Impa to sit down on a nearby stool and set to healing her minor injury.

Impa covered her face. "I'm so embarrassed, calling for help when I'm a full grown woman. But you probably know, I may be biased when it comes to these things."

She very much was. Impa despite, or perhaps due to, her inability to have children as of yet, was highly protective of them. She cited her own lack of childhood, full of training for something she had no talent or real interest in.

Zelda had asked Paya about that, but she said she appreciated the training and duty, as it gave her purpose. Zelda had reflected on that, as she also had a clear path set forward. It certainly gave her purpose… but if she hadn't wanted it, if she'd decidedly wanted to do something else– be something else–

Well, no use dwelling on hypotheticals.

"How was she even present?" Zelda asked.

"She snuck in while I was running a maintenance test," Impa groaned, "I'm usually not so distracted…"

There were many words Zelda could use to describe Impa. Unfortunately, 'distracted' was a pretty adpt descriptor.

"There was nothing you could've done," Zelda said finally, "If you needed someone to blame, then the guards who let her in would be better than yourself… However, it was all as Vah Medoah willed it. I don't know if there is anything we could do to prevent it, considering how bent on Reba Vah Naboris was."

Impa deflated. "You may be right. I can't help but feel there must've been something I could've done, or something I didn't do."

Zelda said nothing. She thought back to Link and how young he'd been when he'd killed that witch. How young he'd been when she'd asked him to go on that quest. Was that any different from now?

"Kadli seems pleased," she said finally.

"She doesn't know better."

Zelda looked into her eyes. "Is there anything you want me to do?"

Slowly, Impa shook her head. "I have a want, but I don't know how to say it. Oh, and here I am putting troubles on a young person. I truly am despicable…"

"Impa, this is the sort of thing I'm good at, and I'm not a child anymore. I turned 17 years ago."

Impa looked at her closer, searching for something in her feature. She must've found it, as she looked away and said, "Talk it through, I will try and trust, but it is hard."

"If it were easy, that would probably miss the point."

"When did you get so smart… Let's move on from this, the village elder will probably want to talk to you."

Zelda nodded. They made their way up the ancient rock spire. The Hylian quarters were built at the base, and the laboratory right next to it. It was actually the worst place to live for the Rito, who valued the height and views afforded by a higher perch. Few Hylians took offence. Zelda especially didn't, as while not 'afraid' of heights, she had what she called a 'healthy aversion.'

As soon as the lab was set on their tasks, Zelda was brought to the uppermost branch of the spire where the village elder waited. Unlike the rest of Hyrule, the Rito weren't hereditary with their leadership. The elder was appointed by the previous one, or by a manner of vote.

The only other people in Hyrule who had something similar were the Gerudo, who due to the king born every 100 years the royal blood changed families relatively often. The Gerudo king's daughter would then rule, or, if he had no children, it would be decided by either a vote or a duel. Depending on how traditional they were feeling.

Compared to the Hylian royal family, which had been in power more or less since the birth of the kingdom, it seemed almost chaotic. Of course, her family were the descendents of a goddess incarnate, and that did grant special powers, along with Rito had no such bloodlines.

The elder was waiting in the room handing off the spire like a giant ornament. Zelda had to force herself to not look down, even though logically, she knew any number of Rito would stop her from splattering.

"Ah, Princess Zelda," the elder greeted, "And… Lady Impa… what a pleasant surprise."

His tone suggested it was a different sort of surprise. Impa could be a lot to interact with if you didn't understand her.

"I assume you're here to discuss our pilot."

Zelda nodded.

The elder sighed. "It is unfortunate that Kadli was chosen, but even Lady Impa sad there was nothing we could do."

"She is correct. Nothing less than Divine intervention could change the Divine Beast's mind." She'd prayed as much when Reba had been chosen.

"...Right. So there is nothing you can do."

Solemnly, Zelda shook her head. "Is there anything about Kadli, besides her age that makes her a bad choice?" Zelda asked, "She seems very capable.."

"She is– the rising star of the Rito we were calling her– but we do wish for her to keep rising."

Suddenly, a pink blur entered the room through a window.

"And how would piloting a Divine Beast to protect the Rito stop me from doing that?" Kadli asked, "I would still fight from where I could, but without the aid of Vah Medoah!" She turned to the princess imploringly. "You can't let them stop me! Please Your Highness."

Zelda paused, unsure how to move forward. Slowly, she started, "I remember how it was to be your age, Kadli, and I know how we're talking feels unfair, but you will probably feel the same way as us when you get older. That being said, Vah Medoah chose you for a reason and we must respect that."

Kadli stared still, and Zelda was unsure how to interpret it. She continued, "It's clear to me that you're an impressive warrior and it is with pride that I fight alongside you."

The elder and Impa looked displeased with her generous, but honest words, but what did they expect her to say? 'No you can't be a pilot,' and be down a Divine Beast?

Kadli, however, fluffed with pride. "I won't let you down!" she promised, bowing swiftly.

Zelda smiled while Impa and the elder shared a glance. Kadli kept an air of noble pride, even though it was clear she was barely containing her excitement.

...

With things settled in the Rito, as settled as they could be, Zelda moved around for the next three years, helping where she was needed. Mediating between the Divine Beasts, pilots, and the people they both wanted to protect. It was hard work, but it kept her busy which she liked. If she was too busy to think, she was too busy to worry about the future.

It all developed quicker than they thought, due in part to Impa constantly making improvements to efficiency. Link also continued to supply the material at what Zelda thought was an inhuman rate.

With four pilots, four Divine Beasts in production, and thousands of Guardians in production, Zelda thought them well prepared.