Clean and composed, spick and span, makes a healthy and handsome man.

It was almost like a proverb, a saying his mother had driven into his head once she found out her son was technically a politician. A mantra for how to perform your best.

After all, Patisse had to do exactly that. Once a month, apparently, the embassy was to meet with not only the Champions, but the King in order to make sure everything was going well; it was a newly instated ordinance. What would happen during said (hopefully brief) meeting was beyond the Rito's comprehension, but nonetheless, he had to look fabulous. And for someone with feathers, that meant a loooot of combing.

Unfortunately, the crest was refusing to listen. No matter how many attempts were made, the sharp red feathers would flop uselessly to the side.

"Come on, you little—urgh!" He muttered, as though it would make a difference. Surely there's gotta be some sort of adhesive, some gel-like thing somewhere. Everything else was perfect, except for this one, stupid little—

"Pat!" Her voice came from right outside the door. Shockingly, Stelli burst in with no reservations. The Zora wore a dress, which was a first for any aquatic person he'd known, but it looked absolutely stunning. Sparkling teal green, which actually kind of complimented his sequined vest. But that was of no concern—she was mad. "What on earth is taking so long?"

"It's this one feather, just—it should only take a few more seconds—"

"Boost me up." This was no mere suggestion, but an order. Her unnatural ferocity startled him, but Patisse made a stirrup regardless. Evidently, Stelli simply didn't care anymore, and hopped right onto his shoulders. Delicate fingers tousled with the feathers on his head for a brief moment, and she was off just as quickly. Amazed, he checked the mirror. Perfectly straight.

"Woah. How did you—"

"No time. Move your tail!" She barreled them both towards the exit, Pat's talons catching awkwardly on the floor. Woah! We aren't that late!

He tumbled into the hallway, nearly ruining the so carefully done preening. A passing few guards jostled back, surprised, but quickly regained composure and went along. He gave a meek wave and awkward smile. They looked nervous. Was it because he could almost reach the vaulted ceiling?

All this time, and Patisse still wasn't entirely used to his height. Around fifteen feet. Geez. Someone had said that he matched or even exceeded a Lynel, and though he'd never encountered one, it was probably true. There were a lot of stigmas surrounding such things, despite the general impressive sizes of things and people around Hyrule. Towering was never fun, because in all honesty, he was far from threatening, but imagine how Hinoxes felt.

Speaking of which.

A loud thundering jostled the ground, and tiny bits of gravel were shaken from the ceiling. That clearly was not natural. As if on cue, the group of soldiers returned with more members and rushed by, weapons raised.

"Monsters spotted advancing by the east gate!" Announced the captain as they passed. East? Isn't the embassy chamber in that wing? I hope—

"Patisse!" His Zora friend clutched onto his arm. Aw. I wonder if she's scared? He didn't have much experience with the creatures that served the Calamity either. Apparently this was not the case, because Stelli instead began pulling. "Come on! We need to get you to safety."

"Get ourselves to safety, and hang on. I understand, but the embassy is by there. If we're running late, that means everybody is probably over there; not just our group, but everyone. I'm helping if I'm capable." Stelli hesitated, thinking deeply within her fishy ocean eyes. That openness again. It just seems unusual. Maybe I should help her have more emotional defenses?

"...Fine. Stay by me." It was so conflicting; Pat knew why she was this way, and he wanted to alleviate those worries, but he didn't want to be tied down either. Living your entire life in fear isn't living at all. Either way, they hustled along. He would've flown, but that wasn't fair.

The Rito had to abruptly stop, trying not to get scratches on the carpeted walkway from his talons. The hall beyond this point was practically flooded with soldiers, holding defensive positions. Explosions and further rumbles came from outside. The embassy room was near the kerfuffle; it was open, but he couldn't tell if it was empty or unscathed.

"You!" He demanded of the nearest army man. "Have the Champions moved into battle? Where are the diplomats?"

"We don't know much," the soldier responded simply, suddenly being summoned by his captain to move up. "The warriors have mobilized and the embassy was last with the king. That's all I have." He scurried off, and was one of the first to flood out the large doors in an assault. Yuck—war.

"Pat! Please!" Oh, the desperation in her voice stung so much. "I'm sure they're safe! Now—just—" Her efforts to move him were futile, and he watched sadly.

"I'm not leaving until I know. You understand why I'm doing this."

"I do, I do, but you—"

"But I nothing. Stelli, no matter how it hurts, you'll have to let me go now and again. Caged birds rarely sing." The poor Zora was wracking herself over with both sides of the argument. Man. —Now if I were the others, where would I go?

Life slowed down as the wall right next to them suddenly came crashing down under a massive two-toed foot. Stelli's gut wrenching cry for Kaiugi shattered the time stream itself. Debris sprayed and dust billowed.

Pat hadn't been hit, but now he was discombobulated, and right next to a giant troll. True, he actually reached the Hinox's abdomen, which was downright impressive, but the overall size of the beast was horrific. It stared him down with that ugly eye, hideous dirty lips grinning over a fat greasy and stubbled neck. It's belly jostled, as though it planned to get more full in a few moments. Ironically, the garlic stench of the Hinox was the first thing that hit him.

And thankfully, the only thing.

The Rito had entered that rigid focus you get when your life is threatened, but it apparently wasn't needed. The beast was suddenly launched away by a massive explosion, which must have had immense firepower to send something so large flying so far. With it came down more of the wall, but Pat had already moved to the opposite side. Luckily, soldiers appeared to guard the new hole and do battle with the smaller monsters. In the moment, he'd forsaken Stelli in favor of bewaring the Hinox, which he now regretted, but he was once again thankful to feel her clench to his side. What saved us though? A stray cannon shot wouldn't have been so devastating, and the Divine Beasts were still being heavily worked on and trained. From his position, one could see the large outcropping that extended from the nearest keep, from which small cannons, ballistae and archers could take aim.

Standing beside an entire trebuchet were none other than Topado and Geiha.

"Stelli, look, they're over there! Let's go." At her hesitance, Pat glanced down and found his friend sobbing. His light brown feathers were being stained a dark burnt umber, as they often did when wet. Alongside unnaturally pale colors, her membrane was completely limp, which it never had been. With a conscience-stricken swallow, he hefted her into a cradle carry, and hurried off down the hall towards the others.

They met him halfway.

"Oh Hylia. Is she hurt?" Was the first thing Geiha exclaimed upon arrival, stunningly caring.

"Not quite, but maybe mentally unsound. She needs to stay by me." Patisse noticed with a stab of guilt that the quivering Zora's beautiful dress was now torn. I was too stubborn. I let this happen. Stelli's panicked muttering and rambling nonsense faded underneath Top's victorious growling.

"Ha! Take that, ya stupid ogre!" He yelled at the imaginary Hinox who had now either ran away or vanished in a puff of purple smoke. "That's what you get for trying to mess with one of our own!"

"H-how did you guys get such a large quantity of high-grade explosives into a literal trebuchet? I didn't know they still had those."

"We got lucky that the soldiers already had it out—it just took a bit of convincing to let us use it." He did not like what Geiha was implying, but at least now they could get the peck out of there.

The Gerudo sighed as the quartet hurried away through the halls. "I can't quite call you chicken cause that was really brave, but it was also really stupid. What were you thinking, Pat?"

"Well...don't flame me—but I was trying to find you guys. And yeah, now it sounds pretty dumb. I thought I could help, but look where that got her." Geiha abruptly stopped the run to lay a hand on his forearm. The Rito prickled at first, but noticed the look she was giving him was for once not amorous, but instead grateful.

"We appreciate it. I've never had a coworker who cared for me properly." Oh. That's...unfortunate. But also touching. Does that make me special to them? Top seconded this bond.

"You're a good un', big man. Even after what we been through, I had my doubts, but you're definitely a keeper. I like the types that don't abandon ship." That was comforting. It ended badly, but he had good intentions.

The rumbling of battle was still present, but generally slowing. Pat glanced down; Stelli must have fallen unconscious from the shock and emotion.

"Is there a safe space? Some form of bunker? I don't want things to get any worse." The two other ambassadors nodded to each other.

"I think there's a place."

--

Oww... What was happening? Why did she hurt? She felt cold, a little unsteady. It was like some massive weight on her bones, as though she was being sat on by a Hinox—

PATISSE!

Her attempt was futile. Stelli's mind fought, screamed, but the body refused. Being immobile was terrible, and she just couldn't get a grip on what happened. Was there a chance? Could she still save her, er, him? Get up! Get up, you stupid minnow! She wanted to cry, despite likely having already done so. Stelli felt so useless; she could see him getting massacred, right now, while she sat like a lump—

The Touch!

Thank the goddesses, the Nostalgia Touch. So warm, so gentle and promising. They must have been saved or instead died together, either of which she was honestly fine with. If only she could move, savor it, hug him, scold him for being such a reckless dolt.

The feathers brushed along her arm with the softness of a sheep's wool and the smoothness of velvet. It helped Stelli become more aware of her physical being, and how she was lying down on a mattress that wasn't comfortable compared to Pat's plumage. It gave the impression of somewhere in the living world, and that brought her much more joy.

"Hang on a moment," interjected a wonderfully familiar voice. "I think she's stirring." Yes! That's right! He folded around her considerably smaller hand, and gave it a light squeeze—just as she had during the first reconciliation several weeks ago. Has it been so long? The motion pulsed feeling back into her arm, and Stelli felt refreshed.

Finally, the Zora opened her eyes to a wooden ceiling. Gentle candlelight lit up the intricacies and knots in the bark. On her right, a bed stand with a glass of water. On her left... She mustered the strength to twist over.

There her friend sat a respectful distance away, delicate grin gracing his beak. Pat thankfully looked physically well as always, save for the slight ruffle and darkening of feathers on his right side that still looked wet. Delighted, Stelli held his wing as though it were a rope above a chasm.

"...I missed you," he murmured, eyes and voice low. The ticking of a clock was the only sound that permeated the following silence—the fight with the monsters must have been over. Thankfully. ...—We should probably just date already. This must be anguish for everyone else to watch. Now wasn't really the right time though. She had to try really hard to keep things platonic.

"Everybody's okay?" He nodded, habitually clicking talons against the floor.

"...Are you?" Pat's slow and gentle speech made her realize that ironically, he was the one worrying over her.

"So long as you are." They stared for a while longer alongside the incessant clock ticking. The almond Rito let her go and leaned back out of his hunch with an audible exhale, so tall that only his lumbar region was supported by the back of the chair.

"Alright. Apology time," he breathed, looking distraught. Why? You did nothing wrong. "I was too stubborn. I got caught up in thinking what I could do, not considering what the effects would be. I hope—and I'm not defending myself—that maybe...you could try and realize how I had pure intentions? I wanted to help people, but like a lot of my ideas, it failed. I dragged you in knowingly, and...aw, man." Wrought with regret, the poor bird brought a wing to his forehead, scrambling the crest feathers they had fixed just this morning. Despite her muscle aches, Stelli struggled to lean over and extend her arm. Warily, he rejoined their hold, giving back the Touch.

"Apology soundly accepted. Forgiveness properly given. Friendship—never revoked in the first place." His relief bore an adorable felt smile. She liked those little wrinkles of joy near the golden eyes. "I'm sorry too, worrying you so. An overreaction on my end."

"Nonsense." He stood with a significantly brighter mood, and helped her up to a sitting position before breaking away and heading to the door of the small guest room. She realized he was about to open the door and likely let in the other ambassadors.

"Um, P-Pat, wait a second. Could you come here?" Curious, he squatted down on the side of the bed. I hope this works...how do they work around the beak? She gestured, and he understood enough to envelop the Zora in a soothing embrace. Ignoring the wondrous flow of reminiscence from the Touch all over her for the time being, Stelli stretched upward as best as possible, which hurt just a little. On Pat's cheek, she placed a gentle, very light kiss.

It actually was an interesting feeling, very fuzzy. She didn't know how the Rito did this sort of thing with beaks, so she opted instead for the less romantic side-peck where the feathers weren't as thick. It seemed to do the job though, as her best friend was rendered immobile in disbelief. Stelli smiled at the wholesome reaction. "Thank you for caring so much for me."

--

Elsewhere

"Boss? They beat us back. The hordes got close, but they had too many defensive weapons."

"Blast. And what of the target?"

"As of last report? Alive and well."

"Worthless! —Why is it suddenly so much harder? The others fell easily! This one must be stubborn."

"What now, sir?"

"I'm starting to lose my patience; I don't care about the collateral damage anymore. Launch plan χƐ.

They won't make it to the cavern alive."

Some deeper insight into all of this. If only things could remain happy. What ever might happen next?