The PTSD of the Lynel charging at Xeri had done nothing but riddle her mind. She couldn't take her mind off of it, how Xeri moved at inhumane speed to dodge the powerful attack. Yet here he was, walking and talking to Link casually about his younger days. It made her angry, angry in a sense that he could just casually carry on after a LYNEL tried to make them lunch. Link too, although she knew she wasn't too fond of Link but she was coming along. How they could talk about nonsense when they're situation last night could've taken a deadly turn is asinine. They haven't even talked about it once!

"Are you both actually serious?" She finally blurted out. Link and Xeri both stopped walking and turned to look back at her, dumbfounded. "How are you two causally acting like nothing transpired last night?"

The duo looked at each other before they looked at her again.

"It's nothing normal," Link spoke up. Her eyes darted from Xeri to him in an instant. "I've been in far more dangerous situations."

"And you deal with them by talking about how Xeri almost got touched by a Moblin's penis in a fight?" Yes. That's what Xeri and Link were talking about. "We could've died last night."

"Almost isn't dead," Xeri said looking at her. "Zelda, why are you thinking about "what if" situations?"

"Because we were all high off of marijuana in the middle of a field where monsters are known to inhabit, after I specifically said we wouldn't be prepared if they were took attack us-"

"We weren't prepared?" Xeri sounded dumbfounded, Zelda had decided to kept her mouth after being rudely cut off by him. "They got the jump on us I'll give you that, but the fact of the matter is that we're still talking to each other right here and right now. Zelda, you need to stop overthinking things. We live in a dangerous world where unpredictable things happen." He walked closer to Zelda who had been staring a hole into his soul, if looks could kill. He'd had been dead a good hour ago. "Your the Princess of Hyrule destined to be Queen. If you think this is bad? Think about the hundreds and hundreds of people who'll want you dead after becoming Queen."

She didn't know what had hit her at that point, she was no stranger to having people who hated her, and she's seen it face to face. But that thought that people wanted her dead made her feel very empty, was it normal? Yes, absolutely and she knew that. But she didn't want to believe it or see it for herself. She closed her eyes before sighing, gently removing Xeri's hand she let herself walk past him and Link silently. Hearing a sigh from the distant, she heard they're footsteps pick up behind her. Hearing they're talking, Xeri's stories of old wars he had fought. Or Link telling Xeri had badly he was treated as a castle knight.

But she didn't really care. She wouldn't relate to them on most of the things they would talk about, only listen and process. She had wished she was born a normal person, where she was raised by a normal family. Having normal friends, and not knights and warriors to babysit her everywhere she went. Or having to attend council meetings and silently sit through the boring and sleep pulling meeting.

She chuckled to herself, it almost made her envious hearing stories from Xeri and Link on how they grew up poor and worked themselves up the rank. Where as people assumed she was handed everything in her life. Where people didn't think she deserved her position, and that she didn't work for it. It made herself feel insecure, and it's the reason she's been so bitter to Link.

An hour had passed and they made it to the hill that leads to Rito Stable where would lead right to Rito Village. They had made it almost a day earlier considering the sun was still hanging high in the sky, after that knight they had slept for four hours max and were on the road before sunrise. She stopped, before turning back and focusing on Xeri and Link who had walked behind her. They finally were in speaking kid in range.

"We're almost there." Link had stated.

"Finally," Xeri sighed in relief. "This old body ain't what it used to be. I'm definitely in need in one of those Rito beds. I heard they were the best in the land."

"Well, let us go. That divine beasts and Revali are waiting for us." Zelda said with a smile before turning around and started to stride.

"Revali," Xeri snorted. "What a jackass. Sometimes I wanna beat him with his own wing."

"Yes, he can be a handful. But I ask that you keep it professional." Zelda said loud enough for them. A grunt from Xeri was all that he responded and she seemed content with that.

Rito Village was bustling with Ritos and tourists. Especially now that both the Princess and Hylian champion were in town. They had lined up, cheering and yelling. Zelda had made sure she waved and interact with everyone, especially the little Rito children who were just the cutest.

The long walk across the bridges made it seem forever for them to get there, but they greeted by such a crowd. When they finally made it to the stairway that led to the village, Rito champion Revali was waiting for them.

"Princess Zelda," His eyes darted to Xeri and Link before blatantly ignoring they're presence. Zelda could've swore she heard an obscenity come from Xeri's mouth but decided to pray for him not to do anything rash. "I'm glad you could make it, follow me to the divine beast. The town is very excited your here, as obvious to the greeting."

"I am very humbled by the Rito. I deeply appreciate what you've setup Revali." She said with a smile on her face.

"Now you know you don't have to thank me Princess," They were led right to a landing. Medoh had been cruising circles around the village in what Zelda had assumed in a protected manner. The landed what what she assumed was a platform for Rito's who were out flying and about. "So here's the plan, I'm gonna fly you up to Medoh for you to check out."

Zelda nodded, Revali had kneeled down spreading his wings. Zelda had climbed onto his back, making sure she was comfortable enough and didn't touch anywhere she didn't want to. A gust a wind had erupted and before she knew it, they were flying fast towards Van Medoh. Leaving behind a gust of breeze for Xeri and Link.

"Damn that cuckoo. Sometimes I wanna grab him by the neck and throw him across Hyrule. Fucker didn't even have the audacity to greet us." Xeri sneered.

"Best if you just don't react. It'll made him madder." Link said.

"Yeah, we'll be better quit knocking at the devil's door before I answer it." Xeri said watching Vah Medoh glide around the sky.

"Do you think Zelda's still mad at us last night?" Link asked looking at him.

"For sure. We had her high on weed, and a damn Lynel attacked us. I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't try to kill us in our sleep tonight." Xeri smirked making Link chuckle. "But on a serious note, I should've been careful and not put y'all in that situation. My apologies Link."

"We're still here. So it doesn't matter." Link said quickly. "So how long have you smoked weed?"

"When I was like 13."

"That young?" Link almost exclaimed.

"I grew up around drugs and people who did drugs. Weed, cocaine, fentanyl. Anything basically. Had a lot of people I grew up with or loved die from drugs. My mom being one of them." He sighed. He had remember how hard the rain came down on him, burying his mom with tears running down his face. The memory has haunted and will haunt him for the rest of his life on this planet. "But don't think of me as a innocent kid just growing up around that shit. I did a lot of it too. Overdosed on coke when I was sixteen."

"Really!?" Link said looking at him. "How'd you survive?"

"No clue. I started doing coke at fourteen, and I was heavy on it. I'm talking about every day I was snorting. Mom's death really fucked me up inside, and the pain just wouldn't go away. People bash people who do drugs because they're slowly killing themseleves, but them drugs really do numb the pain. And I had a lot of pain in me, and when people find a solution that numbs that pain. They stick with it. I watched my one of my best friends overdose on it when I was seventeen. Hadn't snorted it since."

"Stu," He continued. "Stu was a great kid, would take an arrow for you if you were his guy. Main but what made Stu Stu, is what he always had to say. He was a couple years younger than me, but man he was wiser than I ever was. People always thought he was a bad kid because of his usage of drugs, but he was the exact opposite. He was a good kid no doubt, he just had a hard childhood. His mom and dad were killed when he was younger, and was raised by people who did drugs. He was just a product of his environment, he didn't know any better."

Link could've swore he saw a slight tear from the eyelids of Xeri. "I was seventeen, he was fifteen. It was really just a normal day, we had lines ready on the table and we took them. Only when Stu took his line, he started to convulse and shaking violently. Me and some other people saw it and took him to the village doctor. Where he was pronounced dead. It was crazy, how I had been laughing with him five minutes earlier and now he was dead. I had threw away every drug in my hut that day and vowed to never do it again. Hardest months of my life recovering from withdrawal."

Xeri continued. "I blame myself for his death every day. The smile he had five minutes earlier had gave me nightmares all my life. I just can't escape it. I never will."

Link didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say.

"But it doesn't matter now. Now where the hell is Zelda?" Xeri said eyebrows furred at the giant mechanical bird in the sky.

"This is just amazing," Zelda practically beamed. "I can't believe that this thing even exists. A flying ancient Shiekah bird, who would've thought?"

"Piloted by me," Revali cut in. "The most skilled archer of all the Rito, with me by your side we can destroy Ganon." He said staring at her, she smiled and slightly nodded her head. "Now tell me Princess, how has your incompetent appointed knight done so far?"

"Hylia," She breathed out. "He rarely ever speaks. He's stoic, bland and boring. The only time he speaks is when you ask him something and even then he doesn't speak."

"I had always assumed I was be better at the job then him," Revali crossed his arms, before eyeing her. "What about that old geezer?"

Zelda felt an urge of anger go through her. "Please do not speak ill on Xeri's name. He's very close to me." She calmly asked.

"I've always just pondered. How did a criminal even get a job near the castle? It's always amazed me."

"Him and Father were close before I was born. Xeri always told me Father gave him a second chance life when he was arrested and thrown in jail for most likely would've been the rest of his life. He asked Xeri to protect Mother, who at the time was pregnant with me on her trip to Gerudo."

Revali's arms had still been crossed and he didn't look impressed. "How asinine. Why is he even with you? Is babysitting you?"

"No!" Zelda almost exclaimed. "Father wanted him to come along on this journey so that me and Link could get used to traveling with each other. We will be off to Gerudo soon, without him."

"This only proves that Link isn't worth of appointed knight. You need someone who has real skill. Someone who is worthy at they're position. Do you know I am the only Rito to ever master an updraft. I dub it Revali's Gale."

She cleared her throat. "I'm glad you feel that passionate. But I trust my Father's decision in Link." Probably the opposite of what she felt.

"Well," Revali said before looking at the setting sun. "It seems we oughta get back Princess."

"Yes Revali. That would be best."

Night had arrived, and after a big meeting and feast with the head of the village. They were set to be off in the next morning. Link and Zelda had been sound asleep in they're beds, but Xeri was out on the platform. With a cigar intertwined between his fingers, he took a long hit from it before doing tricks with the smoke. Blowing out O's or the usual letting the smoke travel from his mouth into his nostrils then blowing it out his mouth again.

He sat on the edge with his legs dangling. Tapping on the cigar lighting, the used ash had gently fallen from it. He heard a loud thud from behind him but didn't bother to look back, he already knew who it was.

"Out late I see." Revali said, he heard his clawed feet walk along the wood closer to him. "May I ask you something Xeri?"

"What?"

"How is it criminals like you and lowlifes like Link deserve high positions?" The smoke came out of the smile that Xeri wore. He chuckled before flicking the cigar from the platform and stood up. He faced the Rito, who had a smug look on his face.

"By being miles better than you." Was all that Xeri said. Revali had went to open his beak but not before Xeri held his hand up, silencing him. "You think you this great warrior, I can barely tell by just looking at you."

He began to circle Revali. "I can tell you-actually no. I can guarantee you that I'm better at every aspect at being a warrior than you. Archery, sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat. You name it."

A look of anger and disgust found itself upon Revali's face. He sneered before scoffing at Xeri who had still been circling around him. "You really think your better than me at Archery? Or even worse, you really think you could beat me in a one-on-one fight?"

"No, that's the thing." Xeri said, he finally stopped in front of him. "I know I can beat you. I think your forgetting something son, I've been doing this warrior thing longer than you've been able to wipe your ass after you shit."

Revali shuddered with angry, before stepping up closer to Xeri. Chest to chest, he bored a hole into Xeri's face with his stare. Xeri couldn't hold back his smile. He couldn't take this cuckoo serious. "Face me then. Watch me slap you around for a bit."

Xeri smile still held up. "Don't do something you might regret in the next five minutes."

"Enough talk." Revali scrambled into a fighting stance. Xeri held his stance, hands behind his back. He walked a little closer towards Revali, and saw it coming. Revali clenched his wing into a fist, and took a quick jab towards the direction of Xeri's face.

Stepping back and easily dodging it, he quickly docked the very predictable left haymaker the Rito throw in an attempt to distract Xeri with a parry. It actually only made things interesting. He used this opportunity to chop Revali in the side with the side of his hand. Hearing the blow, he heard the bird grunt in pain.

A lighting quick uppercut was thrown while Xeri was doubled down, but it was an easy dodge before Revali spun around in an attempt to back hand Xeri. Xeri dodged but only to crash into the railing of the platform, the Rito had tried to kick using his clawed feet.

Xeri rolled over letting Revali crash his foot into the railing. He felt a strong punch land on his cheek before he threw a punch of his own into Revali's chest. Revali had then began to throw a flurry of punches. Xeri dodged most of them for the most part. He's using Rito fighting style. Maybe I should surprise him.

Revali charged up for a powerful punch but no before Xeri's swiped his open palm into the beak of Revali. He began to backpedal before Xeri charged at him. His movements began to mimic a bird, as how the Rito fighting style was. He kept his hands opened, and every strike he landed was open palmed. The pure shock on the Rito's face almost made Xeri burst into laughing tears. Breaking Revali's guard, he jumped up and bashed a knee into the Rito champion's face making him tumble back. He looked up in a fury of anger.

"That's sad. I'm better than you at Rito fighting. And your a Rito." Revali had growled angrily charging him. Xeri let a fist fly connecting, but not before the Rito tackled him to the ground, he straddled Xeri slamming his fist down. Xeri had managed to dodge the first one, but the second one came too quick. He took the opportunity of Revali charging up him to throw him over. He bucked his hips and practically flipped over. The two began to wrestle but no before Xeri quickly was able to regain the higher ground. He drove a knee into the ribs of Revali before throwing him aside. The two then began to trade blows back and fort.

He finally overwhelmed the Rito with attacks and blows before he swept Revali to the ground with a leg sweep. The Rito bird was able to get up, quickly trying to blindside Xeri with a heavy punch. Xeri had moved his head to the side before letting the punch slide over his shoulder, he then spun, grabbed Revali's arm and throw him over his shoulder. He hit the ground with a thud, and Xeri didn't let go of his arms. He began to swing him around and on the third swing he let go, letting the bird crash into the railing.

Revali, now breathing and huffing heavy slide down to the ground sitting. Unable to catch his breath he looked at the much older man who hadn't really lost his breath. His eyes filled with angry and jealously. "What did I tell you kid," Xeri walked closer. "Maybe that'll teach you some goddamn respect." Xeri chuckled before walking away. He stopped before looking back at the defeated Rito. "You're not a bad kid son. I'm sure you've worked hard to get where your at. But never let your position overrate you. No doubt your a great warrior, but don't pick fights knowing you won't win them. It'll get you killed."

And with that, Xeri left him alone.

Safe to say Xeri got much needed sleep. Revali's farewells and goodbye was rather quick and bland. Before he flew up to Vah Medoh. Deciding not to tell Zelda what has occurred, he led the trip back to the castle.

They made it back to the castle after a day and a half of traveling. Rhoam had been rather happy more than usual when they saw him. And with that, Xeri had been officially retired once he returned back to the castle. Rhoam had planned a surprise party with a ball and dinner for his retirement. It had all felt excessive and thankfully it was over before he knew it. The next thing he knew was he headed to the stables to retrieve his horse.

"Xeri!" He had stopped before turning around to face Zelda. She had jogged up to him before crashing into him and wrapping her arms right around him. "Please visit us every now and then."

"I will Zelda," He chuckled wrapping his arms around her too. "Hey, you be safe out there with Link."

"Ahh, another thing I wanted to talk about. I've been getting a really bad feeling about the Gerudo journey tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure. I've just been having this eerie feeling."

"It's nothing Zelda. You'll be fine. You have Link by your side. They'd need an army to take him and you down." He cupped her face. "Everything will be okay."

They had partied ways with a hug. Zelda off to her room and Xeri off too Lurelin. Zelda knew her gut wouldn't feel like this unless something bad happened.

In the morning both Link and Zelda left for Gerudo.

They never made it.