Chapter 1: The Champion's Return
Link
"Gah!"
"Link!" Zelda said.
"Link! You alright?" Revali said.
In truth? My wing felt like it was on fire, my legs were going numb, and my eyesight was blurring as I lost strength. Revali flew down next to me to get a closer look. I grit my beak in pain. What should I say? Revali was right next to me and ever since I was a fledgling, I had found it hard if not impossible to lie to him.
"Link…?"
And he wasn't taking silence as an answer. I finally spoke.
"Ganon did a number on me and my second wind wore off."
I winced again, "I can hardly fly."
"Then lets land." Revali said, Zelda nodded in agreement.
"If you are struggling to fly you need to heal or else who knows how much longer you'll be able to stay aloft. You may be brave, but that doesn't make you invincible."
"I'll be fine, I just need to…"
I started to unintentionally fall towards the ground, barely holding onto consciousness.
"Rest…."
"LINK!" Revali and Zelda said.
With the unmatched speed that often accompanied his flight, Revali dove toward the ground, trying to get ahead of my fall.
I don't remember if he caught me or not, as his voice and dive was the last thing I saw and heard before my consciousness finally gave out. Heh, it appears my injuries were a little bit worse than I thought…
Revali
What? Did you think I would let my brother do all the heavy lifting this time when I'm actually in the beginning of the story and it's as much mine as it is his? I don't think so. I should probably introduce myself even though my identity is probably already known. I am Revali, Champion of the Rito, and a hero of Hyrule. Or is it not counted for anything to be able to stand up to Ganon or fire the light bow? Ahem, well I suppose I should just get on with it already, so anyway…
Link was falling fast, but fortunately I was faster, maybe even a bit too fast as rather than catching him in my wings, I became a pseudo cushion for him as he landed on my back causing some pain in that area which was shown by my grunt as he landed on top of me. Zelda landed with a little bit of struggle (most likely to her still being fairly new to being a Rito) next to Link as I careful got out from underneath his limp body checking him over for any visible injuries. I regret to say that even though he was breathing, there was visible injury on his body, so much so that I was wondering how exactly he was still alive.
"Is he going to be ok?"
I shook my head.
"Not without specialized healing, I just hope that our best Zora healer isn't sleeping off her 100-year disembodiment."
I removed the Sheikah slate from Links belt and quickly tried to navigate it to the map, getting more frustrated till Zelda gave me a hand and we activated the quick-travel feature.
I ran through the streets of Zora's Domain Link's limp body in my arms.
"Help! Somebody please my brother needs help!"
About 5 different Zora, including Prince Sidon turned to see me and the body I had in my arms. They all came running as, well, it's pretty obvious that Sidon got there first, as he lifted Link's body out of my wings. His accomplices clambered around the Zora Prince.
"Is he going to be ok?"
"What the heck happened to him?"
"He looks dead already."
"He's alive, I know he is." Sidon Said.
You had to admire the Positivity of the Prince of Zora, but even I could see he was scared. As was I, and this time I wasn't hiding it. Odd I know, but if Link died I didn't know what I would do with myself. And the Princess, she had been in tears since we arrived. I turned to see her behind me, cheeks still stained with the streaks of her fear-induced weeping. I tried to do something to encourage her, even smile, but I couldn't. So instead I took to the air with my gale, high above Zora's domain as I scanned the horizon, looking for the signature blue lights of Sheikah tech. Then I finally saw it, the unmistakable glowing blue mechanical elephant, Vah Ruta. As fast as I could, I flew toward it, this time hoping that the pilot would be ok.
Thankfully, Vah Ruta was pretty easy to navigate and fairly dry as I quickly flew to the main terminal as shown on Link's Sheikah Slate. At first I had my doubts about this especially after the guardians and divine beasts were taken over by Ganon, but the more I used it, the more I found myself somewhat surprisingly wanting one of my own. As I glided through the air, low to the water that surrounded the final terminal, my thoughts and eyes were scanning for the massive machine's hopefully alive and most likely unconscious pilot. How hard could it be to find one…? There! I swooped down in a smooth small circle toward, a petite, red, female Zora in lying in the water. Careful not to get my wings wet, I crouched next to her and felt for a pulse. Good, she was alive, but as much as I and certainly she wanted her to rest, I needed her help. I gently shook her.
"Mipha, Mipha."
I heard her stir as for the first time in a century I saw those amber eyes as she opened them. She looked just like she did before the calamity struck in all the best ways. But now was not the time to be emotional or tongue tied, Link depended on it.
"Rise and shine Princess. Welcome quite literally back to the land of the living."
I helped her to her feet as she inspected her body, opening and closing her hands in both wonder and confusion. It made sense, speaking from experience, having your body back after over a century of being without it was an… experience to say the least. I think it cannot be truly described as anything else.
"How are you feeling?"
She seemed slightly tired in her response, "Strange, I don't exactly understand how this is happening. Why am I…?"
"I'll explain later Princess right now I need your help, and you can bet I'm not leaving without it."
Slightly shocked at this, Mipha stood up straight with her typical composure.
"Very well, what is it you need?"
"I recommend you get some rest afterward, but first I need you to heal Link, Ganon…"
"Say no more, take me to him."
I smiled and crouched, motioning for her to climb on my back. She took a step back, obviously scared. I smirked in slight playful annoyance.
"I'm not going to drop you Princess; This is the Fastest way we can get you back."
With some hesitation, she stepped toward me and latched her arms around my neck to keep her secure. I felt myself blush. In a way, Mipha was hugging me. Ugh… Focus Revali. Link can't die, what would Mom and Dad think if I let him? This time without my gale, I took to the skies hoping that my flight skills would be good enough to protect the precious cargo I had on my back.
As soon as we arrived, I had to fight the swarm of Zora surrounding my fallen brother.
"Excuse me, coming through, Let me thorough please. He's my brother, MOVE!"
I imagine that Mipha was thinking that last one was a bit rude, but at this point I didn't care. The head healer looked up as I finally got to Link.
"I'm sorry Master Revali, I've tried everything, it will take a miracle… for him to…"
He stopped speaking as the miracle they were asking for climbed off my back. Sidon, who was nearby, was almost speechless.
"Mipha?" he finally spoke.
With a warm smile, Mipha acknowledged him before turning to Link's still body with her hands outstretched over him. Taking a deep breath her hands began to glow with her signature healing magic that she worked over the various injuries on Link's body. A few minutes later she was done and stood up to deliver Zelda and I the results. He should be fine, but for now let him sleep. With her typical royal composure, Zelda bowed, "Thank you, Mipha."
She nodded in acknowledgement before turning to a still awestruck Sidon.
"Hello Sidon."
"Sister…?"
Poor guy was tearing up big time.
"My, how much you've grown."
With that, the Zora could no longer keep his composure, moving with a speed I didn't know he was capable of, he scooped her up in his arms and held her as if she would suddenly vanish. With this heartwarming scene and the fact that my Link was going to be fine despite his injuries, I couldn't help but smile.
