The Salty, the Petty, and the Brave
Across the room, a Rito who was all too awfully familiar to Link had his bird-like legs crossed upon his desk. The Rito leaned back in his chair, folded his arm-like wings and glared at Link.
The Rito's feathers almost looked black in the dim lighting but even in this light Link knew his annoying little dark navy-blue feathers at a glance. Link took notice that he apparently moved up in rank since he was wearing a gold shoulder band over his red and yellow warrior attire.
The Rito's flimsy tan scarf seemed to cradle the Rito's neck. In Link's opinion the scarf was the most ridiculous thing a Rito could wear. It was superfluous for a Rito to wear a scarf since their feathers kept them warm and this ticked Link off. That audacious show-off!
This was Revali who was, in Link's opinion, the stupidest being to ever walk Hyrule.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of having the Prince of Hyrule come meddling in my business?" Revali sneered and lifted his feet off the desk.
His intense green puny eyes bored into Link's. Revali seemed to not pay attention to anyone else in the room. Perhaps, mused Link, because his brain capacity could not stand to focus on more than one person at a time.
"First of all. I would like to clarify this is not Rito business anymore. It is Hyrule's business, and I am required to assist you in your Divine Beast problem." Link locked his eyes with the Rito forcing himself to speak with Revali in a somewhat respectable manner.
Link could feel hatred boiling inside him. Both knew well they both despised each other. To think they would have to work together was impossible in every way at least in Link's mind.
It would only be a matter of time before they both lost it with each other. To have Hyrule's fate depend on their teamwork was going to drastically backfire. Hyrule was doomed.
"I was handling the situation. I do not need aid especially if it's from you." Revali spat at Link.
Revali stood up with his wingtips resting on the table as he leaned forward still maintaining his glare. Link followed suit resting his fingertips on the table and leaning in towards Revali. Beak to nose they scowled at each other.
The other two, Zelda and the Rito guard stood, idly by watching yet another argument being added to the two leaders 10 years of disagreements. The Rito guard seemed resigned to this while Zelda shifted uncomfortable from foot to foot. She knew Link was childish and petty but she did not realize his diplomatic princely training would be so easily shaken.
"So, is handling the situation having your entire village destroyed and hunkering down in a bunker for the rest of your life?" Link asked and rolled his eyes, his every word dripped in sarcasm.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly say that." The annoying Rito paused "How would you aid in such a how... should I put it...complicated matter. That requires brute force and smarts." Revali deflected back at Link and gave him a smug sneer.
Revali crossed his arms and took out his signature Great Eagle Bow that was only meant for the most esteemed fighters.
"I was going blow the beast out of the sky. With my aerial skills I do not need your help." Revali held up the bow and tighten back an imaginary arrow.
"We need to tame it. Not kill it." Link sighed, acting as though it was the most obvious solution waving a lazy hand at the arrogant Rito.
"Tame it? Are you out of your mind!" Revali turned on Link losing his prideful stance as he lowered his bow, his mouth agape.
"No, the Queen is." Link responded all too quickly as though he had been wanting to say that all his life.
Revali scoffed and brushed the imaginary dust off his wings.
"Wasn't this whole Ganondorf thing your fault?" Revali provoked, a small smirk appeared on his face.
Link tried to muster the best response and felt his shoulders tense.
(I hate him so much!)
Not wanting to admit it he skipped over Revali's snide remark. He did cause it and it was his fault. He didn't want to have this conversation with Revali or anyone else, the very same conversation he already had with his mother. Link knew he had to own up to it and decided he'd have to put aside his difference with Revali just this once though he knew this goal would quickly fade.
Through gritted teeth, Link managed to get out "Let's regroup to talk about a plan to tame the Divine Beast."
Turning on his heel, a skid of his leather boots made a sharp sound on the stone floor. Link stalked out with his hands around his arms. A familiar sound of footsteps trailed behind him. He had almost forgotten she was there the entire time.
A feeling of embarrassment tinged inside him. Usually, he and Revali were alone during their fights. As a child, Link hated that his father would leave him alone with Revali to go do "grownup things" with Revali's father.
They entered the square cavern again. This time all the surviving Ritos looked upon them. Their faces were layered with unsureness, curiosity, and alertness. The keener warriors glanced at them but continued practicing their aerial training.
(How are we going to tame this thing?)
Link suddenly got hit with fatigue and hunger. His eyes glanced toward the cooking pots. It didn't seem like there was any food at the ready.
(Maybe I could try to make some myself? It can't be that hard.)
As Link walked to the dimly lit cooking pot, he felt the eyes of Ritos on his back. He wasn't sure why they were looking at him now unlike before.
Standing before the fire he vaguely remembered his father somewhat teaching him how to cook though it was only when they were out on trips. Glancing to his left he saw many boxes of food stacked. One particular box had Master Revali written in swirling cursive. Was it only reserved for Revali?
(Hehe...)
The thin box was made out of strong pine. Link brushed off the collecting dirt and a whiff of dust filled the air as he eased it off the shelf.
"What do think you're doing?!" Zelda blurted out from behind him. "That's Revali's you know! Why are you compelled to touch his stuff?"
Link shot her a dirty look and proceeded to open the package.
"Because I want to? And..." Link hesitated but continued speaking.
"Revali was allowed to handle my father's sword even though I was HIS son. My father always said, 'You'll get to when your 10."
Link's head dropped. "Of course, that never happened. I don't know what was so special about it that people would fawn over it, but I know it must have been something important though I don't remember it that well." Link jabbered on and gave an angry sigh.
"When Father left...he never came back. There wasn't even anything left of him. Just for his blood to sink into the sand. That's what Mother said, and she told me to never speak of him again. She never told me how he died. It bothers me. What happened that night?"
Then Link covered his mouth. He didn't mean to say all that, but he did. Link wasn't even sure how the conversation suddenly went to Revali's food box to his father. Though sharing food is always a common solution to difficulty in opening up and starting conversation he didn't mean to happen here.
Link somehow felt he violated his and his mother's privacy in speaking so openly. But when words are spoken, they can never be taken back.
Zelda didn't look fazed whatsoever and just looked at him in an understanding way.
"Sounds like the way my mother died, though it could be different." Zelda reached out to touch his shoulder and spoke in almost a whisper.
Link did not flinch at her touch. Everyone else was foreign to him but Zelda.
His own mother was a lifeless cold person forever bonded to her duty not to her son. His father most likely dead and decaying in the ashes of his resting place. Revali a sarcastic salty bird in love with himself. It appeared the people around him were broken and full of themselves except Zelda. Though broken people can be plastered and layered with smears of happiness it wasn't real.
Then she let go. The warm touch of her hand, gone. Zelda reached into the leather bag she had been carrying the whole trip. She pulled out a complex drawing. It was worn and yellow at the back. To think it still survived after the harsh environment was amazing. Though of course it was in the hands of a survivor as well.
"This was my family..." Zelda held the delicate picture, now standing beside him before the soft embers of the fire.
The faded painting showed an alive and happy family. So, this was her family. Link's eyes scanned over the perfect family. The man standing at the far left had light brown hair which was terribly similar to Link's own father.
But the eyes were like Zelda's, a luminous green, and Link's father had a darker brown hair. The women with her lemon blonde hair also seemed much like his own mother as well except her hair much brighter unlike the honey blonde hair Link's mother had. The most important difference was that Zelda's mother looked alive and was decorated with her soft silver eyes.
Link felt envy boil up inside him. Like he did so often. How could one have such a perfect and beautiful family. But he told himself to remember that her Mother was dead, and her family devastated. His eyes moved to an older woman with light grey hair and warm green eyes. Again, the ugly envy stirred inside him, he never even met his own grandparents.
But moving his eyes to the young girl beside the older woman left him shook. It had to be Zelda.
She was captured in the painted picture as a happy girl jumping up and down. The younger Zelda reminded him of a time in Castle Town when the Yiga attacked. The girl whose mother had died. No...that couldn't be possible.
Was it really the same girl?
It had to be.
The girl had the same short, adorable hair and luminous green eyes. The same girl. But she was happy here, but she was sad when he remembered her.
Another memory stirred inside. He was sitting by the window all those years ago with a flower in hand. He remembered throwing the delicate blossom to her from the window. Recalling her never ending tread around the lively town. Her tear-stained face and quiet mumbling. Even though no one could see her heart, her face shown it all. The tiny, heartbroken, empty, sad girl.
But then a sudden flush rose to his cheeks. Link remembered why he had paid so close attention to her. It started as a feeling for empathy to her at first. Even as horrible as it sounds it evolved into a childhood crush. Link wanted to claw at his face and run from her. His guard being his childhood crush? If his mother knew it would be bad news.
No doubt his Mother would kill him, then the court, then his Mother would kill him again! Then the court would start talking, cooking up terrible schemes and gossip. Though he could care less about them since Link was already a disappointment and a topic of gossip amongst those rats. Being a brat, an insufferable fool and his other most disappointing attribute that truthfully wasn't his fault.
His mother's main disappointment in him was that he would never be able to hold up the legacy of the Hyrule Royal Family. Link wasn't even sure if they would be able to defeat Ganondorf without it. Though not all hope was lost, and he tried to not think about it too much.
Link's mind wandered back to Zelda. How didn't he remember her? How didn't he remember those green eyes? His face seemed to be being bombarded by waves of embarrassment.
He ducked his head trying to mute the shade of red blooming on his face that was illuminated by the dim fire.
"It's nice..." Link hesitated, holding back a thousand words billowing in his mouth.
Zelda's eyes lowered to the floor and darted toward the fire. A look of disappointment showed on her face, but she shook it off.
"Thank you, for the compliment."
(Wow, that's just rude. What did she think I was going to say? 'Oh, your families so PERFECT and I envy you. Also, I am now stressed out since YOU were my childhood crush. Really? Do you want me to make things more awkward than they are!)
Zelda motioned with her hand to give back the envious picture. He glanced down at it for the last time then Link handed back the picture to his now childhood crush. Little Zelda's image was still vividly planted in his mind. Link went to unclasp the lid of Revali's food storage. Then disaster struck.
A sudden sound combination of a gasp and shriek emitted from Zelda. Link whipped his head around just to catch the only drawing of young Zelda being dropped into the flames.
In a desperate attempt, he stepped forward reaching for the flittering picture. A glimpse of the joyous Zelda in the picture was something Link intended to save. Time seemed to slow down as he desperately reached for the picture. Zelda failed to react on time. She clawed futilely as it fluttered out of her reach. Most certainly it was soaring to the dancing dangers of pot.
But reaching out far enough rewarded Link. Just as the picture was about to be burnt to a crisp it was safely grasped in Link's warm right hand. Taking it in his hand, Link smoothed the creases caused by the frantic panic. It was crumbled slightly.
A lone ember was burning into it but thankfully Link swiped it away before any real damage was caused. But there was still damage.
The little girl Zelda's chest was burnt through. The part where the heart would be was now gone in the meaningful painting. The flakes of paint swept up into the icy air to dance in the air as ashes. He didn't take a minute longer and stepped away from the fire, away from the taunting flames.
"Here. Its slightly singed," Link handed the painting over gingerly making sure it was well away from the flames.
Zelda grabbed it roughly and pulled it to her face assessing the damage. Tilting it to the right and left until she gave a look defeat.
"At least it's not too bad." She commented with a trace of disappointment in her voice.
Zelda looked up as though she had been lost in her own world.
"Oh! Thank you." Zelda thanked him seeming to want to say more but held it back.
Link hadn't expected a thank you but felt happy receiving one. Truthfully, he was only told he was a bothersome and a disappointment, all his life. It was nice that for once Link felt he could do something beyond that.
"The painting is nothing important but really thank you." Zelda jabbered on still one foot in panic from the near destruction of the picture and one foot rooted in real life where she knew the painting had been saved.
Behind her eyes it was obvious it wasn't just a painting to her. They maintained eye contact before she broke away, rummaging in her bag once again.
"Impa told me to give you this." Zelda held out a familiar item, "She said you would know what to do with it."
The familiar rectangular build and sheikah eye on the back made it quite obvious to Link what it was.
"The Sheikah Slate!" Link chirped as if he was a young child.
Before Zelda even had a chance to offer it to him, it was already in his hands.
Staring at it with admiration. Link flipped it over and back and forth tracing the signature sheikah symbol with his finger. The symbol looked like a sophisticated eye that looked ancient.
The image had been passed down hundreds of years. It was mostly brown with tans but the eye an aqua color. Three triangles were lined above the brow. Two designs flanked the eye that almost looked like stiches etched into it. A long cascading tear drop spilled from the aqua eye.
Link was too involved in staring at the Sheikah Slate to catch the glares Zelda were throwing him from ripping the Sheikah Slate from her hands. After finishing up his giddy state, he suddenly looking up at her.
"Um...let's go regroup with – wait I didn't finish cooking!" Link stared down at the pot and sighed.
Link was hungry but he felt too lazy to make the food himself.
He stared down Revali's box for a long while as if he was a dog contemplating eating a sock. He reached down to pick it up, finally opening the box. Link wasn't sure if he should vomit or scream.
"Wow, Revali sure has interesting taste." Link gagged though mockery surprisingly clear in his voice.
Zelda peered over curious of Link's disgust only to find herself joining him in agreement. Her nose wrinkled in revulsion and turned her head away.
Inside the box seemed to be poultry...
Its glistening texture and fat cut up pieces proved it to be so.
(Do they eat their newborns?)
Link found himself not entirely opposed to the possibility.
"Dear Hylia, why do they eat that?" Zelda commented disgust showed on her face.
"Maybe they enjoy fresh Rito newborns?" Link wondering still squinting at the box and shaking it.
"LINK! Oh, I mean Prince Link." Zelda hastily corrected herself, but her glare returned.
Link could care less once again.
"You know they're right there." Zelda hissed at him.
Zelda didn't have to point to show the attentive Ritos staring HIM down. They all gave him mean looks, even the Rito children that were "supposedly" eaten. All their yellow eyes focused on him expecting him to apologize for disrespecting them.
"Ha..." the awkward sound escaped his lips and Link shifted where he stood, wishing to flee.
Zelda raised her eyebrows at him expecting the same on the Rito's behalf. Sweat beaded down his forehead and the ominous standoff seemed to be yelling silent words even through closed lips.
Link's eyes swept over the crowd then fell on the Rito who had greeted them only that morning. His pupils darted towards Revali's quarters and his shoulders felt a sudden rush of tenseness.
They never had respected him. No one ever did. As a boy they seemed to talk about him when he passed even when his father was there. "The disappointment" as they called him.
Now they expect him to apologize to them when they haven't even tried to stop their running mouths. Revali was encouraging them, and Link knew it.
Running thoughts only brought insecurity though it was different now. Link had anxiety and it could so quickly make him self-conscious, remembering only his bad past experiences, bad things people said, never any good memories.
Unlike that night which was only a week ago. Sitting in the night air and bathed in the moonlight when he saw HER training in the moonlight. The thoughts running through his mind that night seemed simple compared to today.
(Those...those CRUSTY JUGGLERS!)
Though maybe not.
It was the only insult that was not horribly offensive he could think of. Even so it was restricted to his mind.
Their yellow blaring eyes reminded him of the room in the lockup, choking and bleeding. Though he knew the Rito's eyes were yellow, not orange like the eyes in the lockup. But he had enough. A part of him suggested he should own up to his insulting comment but another part whispering to not apologize.
Dropping the box onto the stone floor, his eyes flashed back to them. Still staring. Zelda was staring too, which irritated him more. Link didn't dare look at them. He straightened his snow quill tunic. Taking a deep breath, he strode across the floor ignoring the valiant Rito's and the baby Rito's shocked, hurt expressions.
(I think it would be better if we leave and try to tame that thing.)
Since none of Rito's spoke, the heels of Link's boots clicked on the stone as he strode across the hall accompanied by Zelda trailing behind him. They entered the dim hallway leading to the annoying Rito they would have to be working with.
"You finally ready?" the supposedly great warrior taunted as he stepped out of the large doorway leading to Revali's personal living area. Revali's signature Great Eagle bow was strung around his back and his annoying flimsy tan scarf around his very fragile neck. A neck which Link was thinking about breaking.
"We will discuss the plan on the way there." Link announced in a quiet voice.
"Oh, leaving so soon, I see." Revali boomed and leaned forward in an intimidating way "The Ritos gave you a hard time. Hm? As they should."
Zelda stepped in.
"How about you use your smart mouth for smart thinking now? That would be a good start Revali if we're going to be working together." Zelda said firmly. She must have thought it was supposed to help, though it sounded as if she was provoking Revali.
"Why are you telling me what to do? Aren't you his guard? Let him speak for himself."
Zelda took another step, "And aren't you just a warrior? You should learn your place when speaking to the Prince of Hyrule."
"Well shouldn't you too, miss? I see how you talk." Revali deflected back at her, a smirk smeared on his feathery face.
Zelda fell silent in defeat.
(Talk? What kind of talk is he talking about?)
"Fine, then warrior speaking to warrior. You know this won't work if we don't put our heads together and figure this out."
"Then why do we need HIM. If we just need warriors?" Revali pointed to the inexperienced Hylian Prince.
No one ever seemed to need him. He only made more trouble.
(What does he mean. They need me. Or do they?)
Link thought it over.
(No, they need me. I'm just as valuable and...I got it.)
Link stepped forward glaring the warriors down. Holding the Sheikah Slate in his left hand.
"I believe you do need me. Since I am the only one who has experience with Sheikah relics. This bird is one of them."
Revali scowled knowing that his triumph was faded and plastered with a loss as it dawned on him that he did need the tiny Hylian.
"It was my job to tame it as well. I was simply asking," Link paused almost humiliated to say it, "for your help."
The Rito warrior glanced back at Link his smirk returning.
"How unexpected. Well, enough chit chat let's go kil-oops... -tame this thing." Revali's slip made clear his obvious intention.
Swiftly strutting between Zelda and Link, making the two of them jump back to make a path for him. The Rito scoffed and ruffled his feathers glancing back at them. Walking away without them.
(Oh, so he wants us to follow him! How arrogant!)
Link stepped out the dark hallway to follow the Rito. Putting one step before the other seemed like a difficult task. He entered the cavern where the offended Rito's waited. He avoided eye contact, keeping his eyes on the feathery dark blue back of the Rito.
Instead of going to the entrance, Revali started heading to the back of the cavern. Before them stood a tunnel remarkably like the entrance. This tunnel was more roughly carved and less stable. As bits of dirt fell from it and no stone was seen in the dim light.
Both Revali and Link hesitated. Link glanced over at Revali and was surprised at the Rito's apprehensiveness. Again, the flimsy scarf that hung around Revali's neck triggered Link's internal rage. He had always hated that scarf.
"So, who wants to go first?" Zelda sparked the question probably expecting an easy answer.
To Link every decision was a difficult situation when it came to Revali. One wrong move and Link would pay for it, dearly. If he went behind Revali, the stupid Rito would punch him. Or if he went up front ahead of Zelda and Revali it would put him on edge.
He didn't like the idea of Revali being so close to Zelda. If he went in the middle, well, he could block the punch. Maybe. Being first was always a dreaded spot and usually where trouble happened. Link knew he was thinking too much but when it came to Revali he tended to do that more often.
Revali seemed to be mulling over the same permutations as Link. The annoying Rito keep glancing at him when Revali thought Link wasn't looking.
"Well, are we going or not?" Zelda grumbled annoyed by the long tense silence being exchanged between them.
"Ladies first." Both the Prince and the Rito warrior announced in unison.
Realizing what just happened, the Rito shot Link a dirty look and Link sighed.
(Oh, you've got to be kidding me.)
Zelda raised her eyebrows at them.
"Are you sure that's wise?"
(No.)
What was he supposed to do? Humiliate himself in front of his sworn nemesis and back out?
(Wait Ganondorf is my nemesis...though Revali is not much better.)
"Okay then..." Zelda said responding to the silence.
She swiftly walked past them to the tunnel. Zelda hesitated but proceeded to swing her leg and drop into the tunnel leading upward. She nimbly scrambled up the steep uphill.
Link and Revali didn't make a move on the tunnel. Instead, they stood rooted to the spot. They had decided to stare each other down, as usual.
"You go first," Link spoke breaking the silence. He planned to observe Revali's decision to see if Revali was going to be hostile or not.
If Revali chose the back it would be a problem though if he chose the middle, it wouldn't.
(NO, wait it would! Zelda's there!)
But Revali was moving his bird like leg to swing into the tunnel. Link stepped forward. Revali turned back to bore into Link's eyes. Link planned to throw Revali off. Maybe reverse psychology would work this time though he had failed before.
"After you sir." Link spoke in an all too cheerful voice making Revali's eyes narrow.
It was amusing to Link to see Revali become suspicious of him. He wondered how it would play out.
"No thank you. 7 out of 10 attacks are from the rear." Revali countered ruffling his feathers and smirking at Link.
"Okay, well that still leaves a 30% chance that I will attack you from the front." Link pointed out and glanced up at the ceiling as though it was obvious.
"Yeah, but it will be easier to stop. I can always block the blow or counter it-" Revali tried to finish but felt an unexpected force hit him.
"Slap!"
Before Revali even knew it Link was scampering up the tunnel to escape Revali's rage.
The little slap had made Link overfill with pride and after all those years it had been worth the wait.
All Revali could do was stare up at Link stunned, his mouth still open. Until the not so fun part started. Revali's face spewed up into rage as he narrowed his eyes at Link who continued to try to maintain distance.
Link had been able to outrun him but not for long. Zelda stood with her hands crossed tapping her foot impatiently waiting for them. She stood was a small clearing with a few pine trees. Zelda had just opened her mouth to ask what was taking so long. Link dove behind Zelda huddling behind her like a small child.
"What? Prince Link?" she looked over her shoulder at Link but soon found her answer.
Revali crawled out of the tunnel like an angry ostrich. His sharp green eyes brimmed with anger. His feathers were all out of sorts as they stuck out perhaps due to his frustration.
"You..." the angry Rito spat pointing his ruffled feathered finger at the cowering Link.
Zelda glanced back at Link already suspecting what had happened. Her eyes narrowed but in a warning way. Link caught it and gave her a nervous smile now regretting his decision. Though deep down a voice told him 'It was worth it.'
"Whatever Prince Link did to you should be put the side NOW. We are so close!" Zelda tried to negotiate.
She motioned to the huge mechanical bird currently docked in the sky seemingly asleep. The outline that glowed red when the bird was attacking had diminished as had the winds.
"He just slapped me!" Revali protested and pointed again at the culprit.
"And what do you think you can do about it? He's the Prince you can't just go about and assault him." Zelda rolled her eyes.
"I...well." The defeated Rito stuttered and tripped over his words.
Link smiled and showed the Rito his white teeth knowing that he couldn't get back at him. Revali started to fume again and made a face at Link. But Zelda had already moved on over the situation.
"Well, how do you propose we get on?" Zelda wondered and turned back to the two bickering 'children'.
She turned around to see the two of them glaring at each other. The clear white light from the sun shone down on the three of them but not enough to provide them warmth. It was an eerie cold day, a perfect day to infiltrate an enemy base.
"So..." Zelda questioned expecting an answer.
The bickering Rito and Hylian stayed silent. Link stared up aimlessly at the huge destructive bird. Now it just looked like it was menacingly gazing down at them. So much for the destructive bird since it was as silent as the pine trees surrounding them.
"Maybe...we can hop on Revali's back and fly up there?" Link suggested knowing that Revali would object but it was the only option.
"What?! No. I'm NOT doing that." Revali held up his hands as if shielding himself from the Hylians.
"But-" Link began. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to give him a little girl slap.
"NO!" Revali yelled "Spare my dignity! I would rather be plucked than have YOU Hylains riding on my back like I'm some animal!"
"But you are an animal." Link added.
"Shut up!" Revali spat at Link.
"Come on! Do you want to save what's left of your village or not?" Link motioned to the burning village that was only over the mountain.
The Rito fell silent glaring at the Prince.
"Why can't I just do this by myself?" Revali retorted.
"Revali, we already went over this." Zelda cut in.
"ITS MASTER REVALI HERE!" Revali flung out his wings as if offended greatly.
"Well then why are you acting so childish? And don't act like I don't know." Link raised his eyebrow.
"Know what?" Revali scoffed.
"Your password...for the bunker." Link persisted.
"What about it." Revali waved his hand in a dismissing way.
"Remember its meaning? I am still angry about it and I think you should change it!" Link crossed his arms glaring at Revali.
"Oh, so you don't like the magic word. Please." Revali taunted.
"Its definitely the farthest thing from magic." Link rolled his eyes.
"How so, short Hylian?" Revali sneered and leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me how P.L.E.A.S.E Prince Link Endlessly Asinine Sad Embarrassment is an appropriate choice?"
"What?" Zelda exclaimed about to make a comment but was cut short by Revali.
"Oh so, you want to start this now. I REGRET NOTHING!" Revali yelled.
The two by now were spitting at each other and were about to begin phase 2 of their usual fights 'try to kill each other.' Hopefully Zelda would not have to learn about part 3 where usually Link and Revali fathers would pull them apart.
"Just stop! Hyrule is depending on us and YOU two are just constantly going at it. So much for Hyrule." Zelda sassed. Thanks to her smart words it ended the argument quickly.
Both bickerers laid down their fists and turned to Zelda. Link strutted forward to glare up at the mechanical bird.
"About that plan. Sorry Revali but it's the only way." Link glanced back at Revali and told him.
Revali gave an angry sigh and ruffled his feathers. He glared up at the Divine Beast. Then his eyes darted toward the ruins of Rito Village which were still smouldering in the distance.
"Fine..." Revali the Rito Warrior gave in and spread out his navy-blue wings.
"Get on." Revali snarled and looked straight ahead ignoring his soon-to-be passengers.
As Link and Zelda were about to get on, Revali turned around folding his wings again. His eyes glanced between the two of them.
"Only this one time. and that's IT!" the Rito clarified specifically aiming his gaze at Link.
Link folded his arms. This was going to be one horrible day. Zelda slid her leg over Revali's navy blue feathers and sat down clutching his feathers tightly. Link reluctantly clamored on behind Zelda.
It already felt incredibly awkward. Neither Revali nor Link were happy about the arrangement. Zelda didn't like it either, but she also didn't feel that burning hatred between them like the two males did.
Revali's eyes slid back to Link but only for a mere second and smirked. With a great flap of his powerful wings, they soared skyward. Link went into panic with the sudden movement. His heart dropped into his stomach as the flew higher and higher.
His hands reached to grip Revali's feathers but they become shorter the farther he was from Revali's head and Zelda was in the way. In a panic, Link flung his arms around Zelda's abdomen. Zelda's reflexive reaction to the sudden contact was that she tried to fling his arms off her body.
"Stop, Revali!" Zelda cried out trying to get the Rito to slow down.
But Revali pretended not to hear her. He knew of the embarrassing situation happening between Link and her. Revali was enjoying it as he finally got a revenge that didn't include physical harming the Prince though it could be viewed that way. Link was in too much sheer terror to notice the situation as they shot higher and higher.
Winds swirled around them making it seem like they were in a white colored tornado. Though the air dancing around them looked beautiful it felt like a nightmare for the people experiencing it. The light blue skies seem to come closer but slither away from their grasp. The blinding sun seemed to engulf them in the white light this time bringing warmth.
Suddenly Revali stopped in mid air and came back to being horizontal. Gracefully flapping his wings, they circled the Divine Beast. It looked much bigger up close and looked like a floating house in a way. There was a patch of green grass atop it they hadn't seen before as though it was a little planet. The rest of the beast was obvious mechanical and machinery. A wide platform stuck out of the side of the bird and a large dark entrance beckoned them.
"Get off me!" Zelda sputtered and flung Link's hands off her. Her face burned red as she refused to look at Link.
Link had realized what had happened and a tinge of red beamed on his face.
(Well, what was I supposed to do? I was going to fall!)
"An-and what was that? Ritos can't fly on their own?" Zelda stuttered as she gazed down at the long drop.
"I am so glad you asked. Why it was Revali's Gale my best invention yet. You see I am able to conger my own wind boost. It exceeds-"
"Yeah, yeah I get it. The last time I saw you practice it you fell and broke your wing. I remember it vividly." Link added and smirked getting tired of Revali's ramblings.
"I wasn't talking about that! And for once in your life can you shut your mouth?" Revali hissed at turned his head to glare at Link.
"No, I cannot shut my mouth it is impossible, and it is required that your failures should be voiced." Link chirped and finally started to relax gazing at the bright sun.
Revali made a sudden jerk to the right almost making Link fall off but he flung his arms around Zelda again to prevent himself from doing so.
"REVALI!" Zelda yelled and flung Link's arms off her once again.
"Okay, okay I'll spare you the embarrassment." Revali rolled his eyes.
Link and Zelda had both burning faces from all the mortifying embarrassment Revali was causing. It was a while before any of them spoke again. Both of the Hylians were angry at Rito and the Rito was angry at the Hylians.
What a team.
"Hmm? I wonder why the bird's force field is gone?" Revali wondered aloud and scanned the bird's perimeter.
"Interesting?" Zelda commented "We should go in now that its forces are down."
"Doesn't it seem a little too easy?" Link pointed out and motioned toward the bird "I don't like it."
"What can Ganondorf possibly do? How about this. We go in if something bad happens we abort the mission. Got it?" Zelda suggested and let go of her grip on the Rito's feathers.
"That is a good point." Link agreed but still wearily stared at the bird.
Revali glided toward the welcoming platform and landed. Zelda gracefully hopped off and stared around at the mechanical bird. Link tumbled off since Revali purposely gave him no time to properly get off.
"Well, here we are." The Rito gave a sarcastic wave at the bird's entrance.
It was a circular platform with a large circle in the middle with ancient writing etched into it. A large, huge fan was faced opposite of the entrance, which was curious. A small pedestal waited for them by the door. As the group walked toward the entrance the pedestal suddenly glowed an aqua blue but quickly diminished. The door was wide open as if tempting them to enter.
"Hey what's this pedestal?" Link asked and walked over to it.
It grew bright again. But it followed a strange pattern ... flashing then diminishing. Link inched closer to it and suddenly the Sheikah Slate he had attached to his belt vibrated. Link unclipped it and held it up for the rest of his group to see. The signature Sheikah Eye appeared on the formerly black screen.
He examined the pedestal. There was a rectangular hole in the pedestal that seemed to perfectly fit the Sheikah Slate. As if it was calling to him. Link held up the Sheikah Slate and fitted it into the perfect sized hole. Then it turned from vertical to horizonal sliding in fully.
"It worked!" Link exclaimed but the other two remained skeptical as they watched it.
Little blue words appeared on the screen. All three of them leaned over to read it expecting directions or a picture guide.
I know you're here.
Before any of them could react or make a move. The words on the Sheikah Slate turned a bloody red. The Slate was thrown out the pedestal into Link's left hand as if the pedestal had discarded it like a vile thing. A blood curdling screech echoed throughout the ship. The bird shook to life as the red outline was jolted to its blaring color.
The three of them turned to flee but not before the cold wind from the fan caught them in their escape. It chilled even Revali to the bone as it threw them into the entrance. They tumbled down the hard stone steps further into the beast as they rolled through entrance. A combination of shrieks, gasps and yells echoed from the trio.
Then all the light from the doorway ceased as the mechanical door came slamming down on the entrance.
Trapping them inside.