"… Apparently, there was a second war that he fought, though Kass wasn't able to get that far," Mipha sighed discontentedly.

Link grunted quietly as he hauled both of them up the tower. He had intended to go up alone, but after Mipha had heard about some of the stunts that he and Daruk had pulled on Death Mountain, she hadn't let him out of her sight. It was her usual response to his ridiculously reckless nature that had formed during his childhood. He would attempt some "heroic feat" as people liked to call it, and when she heard of it, she would stick much closer to him than normal. Then, after the incident would blow over, she'd slowly start letting him have his space back, only for him to attempt another impossible feat. It was like a child's toy that went back and forth.

It wasn't really a bother to him. He understood that even though the vast majority of the time there was nothing she could do, the constancy of seeing him not doing anything too daring was a relief to her. The Hylian was also sure she understood that if she were to truly tie his hands, then he would wind himself tighter than any spring, eventually snapping and doing something that would get him killed.

It wasn't a perfect system, but it was definitely workable.

"I'm sorry if I am boring you," she murmured.

"You're not," he replied as he let them down on one of the many platforms that scaled the Tower. "So, what was his name?"

"I don't know. Kass never said. Oh!" she started excitedly as her face lit up, "I think you'll like this one. He told me a story about a fox who can walk and talk like we can. He could shoot and he even piloted a device similar to the Divine Beasts –"

Link listened silently as she continued to relay another of the stories Kass had told her. Apparently, the fox was accompanied by a frog, a dog, and other various creatures that shouldn't have been able to perform half the deeds she said they did.

He didn't know if it was the absurdity of her claims, or maybe she just lacked the ability to weave words into a beautifully told story. Either way, he was having a difficult time grasping what it was she was trying to tell him.

"- I think I am butchering this," she sighed.

"Probably," Link murmured apologetically. He had overheard snippets of one of the Bard's many tales, and the way she was telling him sounded nothing like Kass.

"I'm sorry."

"I'll just ask him about it later," he said as he crouched down again as Mipha took her place on his back.

"That is a good idea," she agreed as he began taking them back up the tower. "I know how much you love animals."

He grinned as they continued to progress up the Tower.

"So, why did you volunteer to activate this Tower when Revali could have done it in a few minutes?"

"Didn't think it was a good idea to ask," he grunted. Though he was stronger than he had been, climbing with Mipha clinging to him was still a challenge, especially since they had already ascended three-fourths of its height.

"I suppose not. Do you think there is anything we can do to help him?"

"I don't know." He was under the personal impression that he should avoid drawing the Rito's attention as much as possible. More than ever, it felt like the Rito Champion was on the cusp of leaving them entirely. He didn't much care for Revali, but he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they needed him.

"I hope he doesn't do anything foolish," Mipha said worriedly.

"He's got an ego the size of Death Mountain, but he's not an idiot."

"You are not either, but we both know that you are prone to reckless actions, especially when you are struggling emotionally."

Link frowned as he realized that she had a point. He supposed that was one of his greatest faults. "… Yeah…"

"You know, it is not a bad thing to feel."

"Even when all you feel is pain?" He regretted the question as soon as he asked, and not just because he knew it was foolish. The way it had come out was not exactly a shining example of how to respond to people when they held out a hand.

"Even then," Mipha replied quietly. "Pain is a part of living no matter how little we may like it, but we don't have to let that be the only thing we feel. There are good things too." He felt her eyes boring into his back. "You know that no matter what, I will always be there for you, right?"

"I know. I still wish there were some things we could do without though."

"If wishes were fishes…"

"… We'd have a school," Link finished, a slight sour note creeping into his response. He'd always hated that saying.

He thought Mipha must have been able to sense his disquiet as she said nothing for a long moment. "Do you remember the time that Muzu followed us up to the Veiled Falls?"

"Not really." The event sounded familiar, but he couldn't recall any specifics.

"Well, he was upset that I was constantly 'sneaking out' to meet you all the time, so he followed me up to the Veiled Falls one day, and dragged us both back to my father… he was absolutely livid…"

"Muzu?"

"No, my father, though Muzu was displeased as well."

"With me?" Link asked nervously. He wasn't sure what he could have done to offend the Zora King. As far as he had known, Mipha had always checked with her father before they went on their excursions.

"With Muzu," Mipha replied. "I think that was one of their worst fights."

Link frowned to himself. It wasn't that he lacked interest, he just couldn't figure out what the point in telling him was.

"They were shouting so loudly that the Zora Knights barged into the room looking for the threat," Mipha giggled quietly.

"I see…"

"Oh, but it gets better. The Bazz Brigade, who were 'sworn enemies' of Muzu, freaked out when they saw him hauling us to see my father and were waiting nearby. When they saw the Knights charge, they followed, tripping over each other while they were swinging their wooden spears around, shouting about some attack…"

Link was beginning to have some trouble maintaining his grip on the tower between the spasms that wracked his chest and the ones that were affecting Mipha.

"… So of course, Seggin, who was the first in the throne room, was horrendously embarrassed to see his son hollering and waving a wooden spear around, which started another round of arguing. So, Muzu was frazzled as he was trying to hold his own against Seggin and my father, and the Bazz Brigade looked like they were torn between anger at what had happened and fear of what would happen to them, and then Sidon showed up."

"…" Link gave a final grunt as he brought them over the edge and set Mipha down. He then plopped down on the floor of the Tower, still trying to contain his mirth.

"Sidon, the glutton for attention that he was, kept bouncing around the room, egged on by all of the arguing as just about everyone in the room was shouting at everyone else. One second, he'd be shouting at Muzu, then the next he'd be shouting at Seggin, back to Muzu, then with the Bazz Brigade. The thing is, he had no idea what was actually going on, so he just made it up as he went. Muzu and Seggin would be arguing, then Sidon would break in, trying to convince everyone that Carp was the best-tasting fish."

Link had to cover his mouth so that Mipha could finish. He was still having trouble picturing the scene, but he had no doubt that such a thing had happened considering what he could remember of his time in the Domain.

"To top it all off, my father went from being more upset than I've ever seen him to more confused than Sidon when you would steal his food while he wasn't looking. After a few minutes of the chaos, my father just sighed and told us to go back to the Veiled Falls. Neither Seggin nor Muzu would tell me what happened after that," she sighed.

"We're we really that crazy?"

"Yes," she replied sadly, "but things started to change after you left to join the Hylian Knights. You became quieter, more reserved."

The Hylian Champion sighed. He had no idea what had happened in his time away from the Domain, only that whatever had happened had caused him to start shutting down.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"No… but I hope to."

"You do?"

"I'm not really looking forward too remembering, but I think I should. If I don't remember, then I might not learn what I need to."

"Just promise me something."

He gave her a questioning look.

"Don't go back to the way you were. I don't like seeing you like that."

"I'll do my best," he murmured.

He got up and set the Slate in the terminal, walking towards the ledge that looked over a large forest while he waited for the map to be updated. It was covered by a thick blanket of fog that only began to dissipate at the very edges of the forest.

"Do you suppose it is really there?"

"I think so," Link replied as continued staring at the mass of green shrouded by white.

"I cannot believe she made it this far by herself, and in so little time," Mipha murmured. Though Mipha had respect for most, it generally didn't sound in her voice quite the way it did now. "I don't think I could have done it."

"Neither could I."

Link turned back as he heard the Slate pop back out of the pedestal. He took it and checked the updated map. Aside from the forest below, there was nothing else remarkable about the region.

"So," he said as he walked to the opposite edge, "how far do you think I can fall before I have to pull out my paraglider?"

"Link…"

"I think I could- "

"Link."

"- make it down pretty far. Imagine how fast- "

"Link!"

Midna couldn't keep her hackles from raising as they stepped into the woods. She had hoped to never see this cursed place again. No matter how far she and her former pack had traveled into the woods, they would always wind up back at the entrance, but that wasn't the worst part.

The worst parts were the faces that lurked at the edges of her vision. They remained at the edges of her vision, but their distance offered no comfort as the hungry maws reached for her with broken, gnarled hands. Every time she tried to look directly at them, they faded back into the dead white that covered everything.

Perhaps the most frightening thing was that the forest didn't smell of death and decay as it should have, but rather, it smelled of life. Places that smelled so full of lush plant and wildlife shouldn't look so dead.

Her head whipped around, ready to tear at whatever had just touched her back. She whimpered slightly as Brother's hand narrowly retracted in time. If he wasn't as fast as he was, she would have mauled his hand. Even though Sister's powers would have taken care of it, not even leaving a scar, she still would have felt terribly guilty about it. He had been the most accepting of her and she didn't want to repay that kindness with a bite.

Seeing him again did bring some comfort, as did the sound of Speaker's voice. She didn't think she'd much like the air walker as the Chicken was nearly intolerable, but he had treated her as one of the others, something she appreciated greatly. The wolf didn't care much for the strange noisemaker he had, nor for his brightly colored coat, but his voice was quite pleasant. Its smooth, deep tones had a calming effect on her. Especially when he used it in his own special way.

It was like howling, and yet completely different. Rather than drowning out the surrounding noise, he usually did it quietly. Rather than to announce his presence, it was like he was trying to convey some deep, intimate message. Whereas a howl was usually one drawn-out sound, his voice changed pitch, rising and falling while still connected. She couldn't begin to understand how he did it, but it was beautiful all the same.

The others asked Speaker many questions, many of which he shook his head to, much to her dismay. She had hoped that he would be their guide if they had to come, but it looked like he was going to be as lost as they were.

They all exchanged an uncertain glance, renewing her hope that they would leave the awful place far behind. That was until Brother said something firmly and started walking forward.

All around her the others started following him. She tried to move after him, but her legs refused to budge. She remained frozen in place as their figures started to disappear into the fog.

It was the thought of being left alone with the faces, and the terror that brought her, that finally unlocked her legs, causing her to bound forward much faster than she meant to. She nearly crashed into the ground as she finally caught up to brother and tried to stop too fast. Under normal circumstances, she would have been ashamed, but she was far too nervous to care.

She began growling as the fog attacked them from all sides, obscuring even Brother from her sight. The last thing she heard was the sound of a great wind, and then everything disappeared into a white sea.

Link brought his hand up to shield his eyes from the light. Despite its low intensity, it still made his eyes throb after the fog. He slowly lowered his hand to find one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. Where once had been fog and an endless expanse of dead trees was now a lush forest with every shade of green he could imagine. The deep green of leaves against the healthy brown of bark, the light green of grass that almost verged on yellow.

Green was far from the only color. Blues, purples, pinks, and yellows tinted the flowers that grew around the edges of the path they found themselves on. All manner of insects buzzed around them, and even small wildlife went about their business, unconcerned by their new audience.

"This place is beautiful," Mipha said to one in particular.

"That it is," Urbosa agreed.

"Can we just do what we came here to do?" Revali grumbled as he began walking down the path.

Link ignored Revali as he knelt down, setting a hand on the terrified wolf next to him. Midna was looking all around them, her head snapping to look back at him as he ran his hand along her back. He gave her a reassuring smile and a firm nod. The wolf still looked to be at her wit's end, but she at least quit growling incessantly.

He stood back up and followed after the Rito Champion, who had wandered far ahead.

"Incredible. I never thought I would be able to see what lay at the heart of this place." Kass was looking all around him, trying to commit as much of the place to memory as he could.

"We should catch up to Revali," Daruk muttered, urging everyone to speed up as they rounded a corner and entered a hollowed-out log. The remains of the tree were so large that even the Goron Champion wasn't forced to crouch as they stepped inside. When they finally reached the other side of the tree they had entered a small clearing.

"What is this place?" Mipha whispered as they stepped into the clearing. It was quiet, almost too quiet.

"That, right there!" Kass said excitedly. "That's –"

Link stopped listening as his eyes settled on the object in the center of the clearing. There was a stone dais in the shape of a triangle, and in the center, underneath what had to be the largest tree in Hyrule, was a blade planted deep into the stone. The hilt was a royal purple with a thin green ribbon wrapped around it. The blade, from what little of it he could see, was plain looking except for the symbol of the royal family that was engraved just above the hilt.

"Link?"

The Hylian Champion kept moving, even passing Revali as the blade drew him towards itself. Everything around him ceased to exist, save for the blade that lay before him. Onto the dais, with his hand outstretched.

"It has been a long time, young one," a voice boomed.

The spell broke all at once, leaving his hand just a few centimeters from the blade.

"I may have guarded this place for eons, but even my patience has its limits." Link looked around quickly for the source. It sounded like it was coming from in front of him, but the only thing there was the tree. On a whim, his gaze traveled up the trunk of the massive plant until he saw a face.

"I see you do not remember me. I am the Great Deku Tree."

Link shrugged apologetically as the name failed to bring anything to the surface.

"I see that your Princess was right to have as much faith in you as she does. I was not sure you would find your way here without your memory of this place, but I see that you all are doing just fine on your own."

Link nodded.

"So, am I to assume that you have returned for the Master Sword?"

He nodded again.

"That is good; however, seeing as you do not remember, I will give you the same warning I gave you the last time. The Blade itself is a test. If you are unprepared, attempting to draw it will kill you. Make sure you are ready."

Link's gaze shifted from the tree back down to the sword that beckoned. He was ready to die if that's what was required of him, but he wasn't ready to throw his life away like he had been in the beginning. His duty still beckoned and had requirements, one of which could be everything, but other people needed him to. Daruk, Urbosa, Zelda, Mipha… even Revali. They all needed him. To kill himself in a fruitless effort to prove something was a fool's errand. One that he would regret from whatever afterlife he would inhabit.

"You have changed. There was a time where the threat of death would not have caused you to pause, yet I do not sense any hesitation in you."

"I want to make sure I'm ready," he muttered.

"…?"

He could sense the Tree before him had an unspoken question, but he didn't have time for it. There wasn't time for indecisiveness, nor was there time for idle chatter. Zelda and the others needed him, if that meant risking his life once again, then he would do so.

And if he was no longer strong enough, he would just power through. He would pull the Blade through sheer will alone if he had to.

His resolve steeled, he reached out to take hold of the Sacred Blade.

Link felt his heart stop as soon as he made contact with the Blade. Even so, he didn't draw back. Instead, he gripped the hilt more firmly and began to pull it. When his determination refused to waver as his lungs failed to draw breath and his vision faded. He kept his gaze on the Sword as it began to glow, refusing to back down even as it drained his life away.

His muscles screamed as he continued heaving even as he felt himself dying. He thought his jaw might crack as he clenched it, fighting with all his will to cling on even as his heart and lungs remained immobile. His hands stayed firmly in place as he thought of each of his friends, feeling his willpower bolstered as he held each of their faces in his mind's eye.

The Blade gleamed brighter.

With one last, silent shout, he heaved with what little of his strength remained. He heard a faint scraping sound as the Blade gave way. No sooner had the Blade came free, then Link's strength returned to him as though nothing had transpired. His heartbeat on, his lungs expanded like nothing had forced them to stop in the first place.

He held the Blade before him, awed by the way it caught the light. He closed his eyes as he raised it skyward as he heard a murmuring at the back of his mind. As he held the blade up, the whispering became louder until the din of it drowned everything else out.

"Link, please! You're at your limit! You have to run while you still can!"

The Hylian Champion grunted as he shoved the Master Sword into the earth, using it to support his weight as he forced himself to his unsteady feet. He didn't feel the pain from the bruises, from the scrapes, from the burns that covered him. His body was numb, only responding to his stubbornness as he took up a defensive stance.

The world was on fire. Where once, healthy fields stretched as far as the eye could see, now there was fire and the remains of broken Guardians. Smoke hindered his vision, forcing him to rely on the mechanical whirring emanating from the Guardians to know where the danger was.

It was everywhere.

"Link, please…"

He couldn't even muster the strength to send a reassuring smile over his shoulder as he nearly collapsed again. He knew she would feel guilty when he fell as she already blamed herself for the others, but he wouldn't abandon her, no matter how grim the odds and how broken he was.

After all, she was all he had left.

The two broken Guardians in front of him rattled as a still functioning machine pulled itself on top of them. Its single eye focused on him while it began charging its laser as he tried to raise the Master Sword. The Blade looked ready to snap, with the deep nicks and rust that covered it from tip to hilt. His arms remained limp, barely able to hold onto the sacred blade.

He heard a desperate "no!" before he suddenly found himself on the ground, staring up at the darkened sky above. At the edges of his vision, he could just make out a golden glow and the muddled sounds of metal clanging into the earth.

Everything was going cold as Zelda's tear stain face appeared above him. "Just hold on," she choked out.

He wanted to tell her that it was going to be okay. That the others would be fine. That there was still hope. That Ganon could still be beaten. Most of all, he wanted to tell her that it wasn't her fault.

All he managed was a weak cough and a pained grimace.

Link shook his head as he looked down at himself, limp and broken in Zelda's arms. He knelt down beside her and tried to set a hand on her shoulder, but it went through. He sat there, staring dumbly as a familiar, webbed hand touched his forearm gently. He turned back to find Mipha, who looked to be struggling to hold back tears.

"This is known as an illusory realm," Zelda's voice murmured, "a world created from the memories of the creator. After you fell, the spirit that resides in the Sword held onto these memories, so you could understand."

"He can still be saved?"

Everyone looked back to Zelda, watching the young Princess in her tattered white gown as the first signs of hope surfaced on her face.

"Princess!" two Sheikah called as they sprinted up and fell into a hasty kneel. She turned to look at them, too determined to even be surprised by their appearance.

"Get him to the Shrine of Resurrection! His life, everyone's, depend on you now."

The Master Sword flashed, drawing the Princess' attention. "Wait," she commanded as she reached towards the unconscious Hylian Champion. From around his neck, she removed a simple brown leather necklace with a golden medallion. "Take him. Quickly."

Zelda watched as the Sheikah picked her friend up and began rushing away. As much as she wanted to see them safely to the Shrine, there was something she had to do. She held the medallion up, causing it light up and consume everything in a bright flash of light.

Daruk, Urbosa, and Link all exchanged a somber glance while Mipha only stared at the Hylian Champion. Revali was determined to stare at nothing in general. Link felt his fists clench as he replayed what had just happened in his mind.

He had left her all alone, forcing her to carry fullness of both their responsibilities. It was shameful, even if he had fallen trying to protect her.

The light faded to reveal the Great Deku Tree and the Master Sword's resting place.

"Princess Zelda?" the Tree asked.

She nodded shakily and proffered the Master Sword to him.

"Place it in the pedestal. There, it will be able to repair itself."

Zelda strode forward purposefully until she was just above the pedestal in which the Sword had rested. She carefully set the blade in and pushed downwards. The sacred Blade glowed blue as it settled back in its place.

"What will you do now?" the Guardian of the Forest asked.

"I will buy them time. As much as I can," she replied. "Their memories will likely be affected by their slumber, but I know that he… that they will find their way here. When they do, tell them I – "

"I would think," the Tree interrupted calmly, "that whatever you have to say would sound better in the tones of your own voice, wouldn't you agree?"

"… Thank you," the Princess replied with a tear-filled smile.

"Are you sure you are ready to face Ganon alone?"

"I am."

"Then time is of the essence," the Tree murmured quietly. "I can send you to the foot of Hyrule Castle. There, you will find the beast. I will also be taking back the medallion. He will need it when he returns."

"Thank you," she replied. She looked down at the sword in front of her as she set a hand on it. "Don't worry. Your master will come for you."

"Are you ready?"

"I am."

"I shall pray for your success, Princess of Destiny."

Again, a bright light surrounded her as she was whisked away.

Link closed his eyes as the landscape changed again. It was painful to watch as a friend had to shoulder the weight of the world because he had been too weak. He forced his eyes open, knowing that there was still more to be seen. The images were flowing almost to fast to process, but he'd take from them what he could.

Hyrule's last Champion strode out of the light, and into the ruins of Castle Town. She took a moment to take in what was left of her once great kingdom. What had once been a flourishing city was now a wasteland, trampled by the machines that had been created to protect it.

Above her, circling around the Castle was Ganon.

"You think you have already won, don't you?" she asked as she stepped over the broken roads, making her way towards the being that had almost taken everything from her. "They still live, and when they awaken, they will come for you… for us."

The Beast roared as it spotted her, altering its course to intercept her.

Zelda looked down at the back of her hands, where three golden triangles glowed with a blessed light. She raised her palm as a golden light blotted their vision.

"What you saw were the memories she deemed important for you to see," the Deku Tree said as the vision faded away, leaving Link still holding the Master Sword above his head. He lowered the weapon, letting it hang by his side as he bowed his head. He had failed last time, but he had a second chance. He made a silent vow to see his duty through this time, no matter the cost.

He sheathed the Master Sword in the scabbard that had appeared on his back and looked back up at the Deku Tree.

"You have grown weak," the Tree mused as it gazed at him. "There was a time when you could have pulled that Blade easily." The Guardian of the Forest let a thoughtful silence pass. "Yes, you are indeed weaker, and yet I sense a strength in you that was not there before. How funny that when the body is ready, the heart is not, and when the heart is ready, the body is not."

"…?"

"When you have regained your former strength, use this to return to me," the Tree answered as something materialized around Link's neck. He pulled it out to find the same medallion that had warped Zelda to the grove they stood in. "That is a Travel Medallion. It was designed to instantly return the bearer to this place."

"Thank you," Link replied as he replaced the medallion beneath his tunic.

"Thank me by sealing the Calamity away once again. I may have power at my disposal, but if Ganon is let loose, not even I will be able to keep this place safe."

Link gave a firm nod.

"Now then, my children have prepared lodgings for you, should you require rest."

'Children?' Link glanced around the forest, curious as to who the Tree's children could be. None of the smaller trees around him looked quite like the massive tree at the center of the grove. It wasn't until he saw a familiar, leafy mustache on a bark-like face.

"Hestu?"

"I was waiting for you to notice me!" Hestu huffed. "Did you find any more of my seeds?"

Link shook his head apologetically.

"He can see Hestu?"

"Hey wait. Doesn't he look like that hero that came to draw the Sword last time?"

"He is! He is!"

The glade was suddenly filled with Hestu-like creatures, albeit much smaller, only coming up to his knees. They surrounded him, all clamoring for his attention at once.

"Welcome back, Mr. Hero!" one of them called.

"Have you come to save us?" another asked.

"Hey, hey, watch this!" another cried as he swung a small twig around like a weapon.

"Now, calm down," the Deku Tree boomed, cutting through the din of the Koroks' voices. "You must forgive them. We rarely get visitors, and ones who can see them even more rarely still."

Link just shrugged. He wasn't really sure what else he could say or do.

"Now then, are you in need of rest?"

"I think we'll be okay," Daruk called from behind Link. "It's still early and I think we should make our way to the Rito Village."

"A wise plan," the Tree agreed. "I will send you to the edge of the Forest."

"Can't you send us to the Rito Village?" Urbosa asked.

"… I cannot," the Tree answered. "Farewell, Champions and may the Goddess be with you until we meet again."

Link turned around and rejoined his companions as mist collected around them the same way it had before. The Hylian Champion sent one last look over his shoulder, remembering all that Zelda had shown him as mist obscured his vision. He committed the images to memory, using them to reignite the fires that had almost died.

He closed his eyes as he felt the earth beneath him shift. When he opened his eyes, they were standing at the edge of the forest.

He looked at everyone around him. Urbosa rubbed her temples as she stared at the ground, Revali had turned away from them all as he visibly shook, and Mipha stared straight ahead with an unseeing gaze. Daruk exchanged a glance with him before shaking Urbosa lightly.

"You okay?" The Goron asked.

"… yes…"

"Mipha?" Link asked quietly as he set a hand on the Zora's shoulder. Her amber eyes focused on him and she opened her mouth, but nothing came out as she stared at him blankly.

"Maybe we should have stayed and rested," Daruk muttered quietly.

"No… some of us needed to get away from there, I think," Urbosa mumbled as she covered her eyes with a hand.

"Maybe you're right. Well… I think we should get going while there's still some daylight left. The Rito- "

"No."

Everyone looked at Revali.

"Why bother going there? You'll all be useless as it is."

"Now hold on a minute," Daruk replied, "even if there's nothing any of us can do – "

"You'll what?" the Rito asked scornfully. "Do you really think there's anything you can do? Not even your hero can reach Medoh. Tell me something," Revali growled as he whirled to face Link, "How does it feel knowing you failed? How does it feel, being the only one that doesn't belong with the rest of us?"

"Feathers!"

"I don't need you," Revali continued, completely ignoring Urbosa as he stepped closer to Link. "Maybe if you were a real hero, I could find some use in you, but all you are is a child trying to bite off more than he can chew. I'll free Medoh without you, then we'll see who the real hero is!"

"Revali… you can't," Mipha mumbled, finally finding words.

"What?" he snapped as he rounded on the Zora Champion.

"I don't want you to go alone. I don't want to see anyone else get hurt."

"Oh? You're worried about me? How comforting, coming from the consolation prize."

"What?" Mipha choked out.

"Revali!" Daruk roared. Link's eyes widened as he heard an anger in Daruk that he had never heard before. Revali again ignored the others as he stepped towards Mipha. Link tensed up, ready to intervene if it became necessary.

"Did Kass not tell you?" Revali asked with mock innocence as he leaned in, as though about to tell the Zora Champion a secret. "I heard him telling Urbosa about how Zelda only had eyes for her Knight, and apparently he reciprocated. All you are is the 'if something goes wrong.' The 'if things don't work out with her.'"

Mipha opened her mouth to say something, but again words failed her as she bowed her head, silent tears falling from her closed eyes. "I know," Mipha finally choked out as she looked back up at Revali with the most hurt expression Link had ever seen on her face.

"Pathetic," Revali muttered as he stretched his wings. "On second thought, I don't need any of you," he continued as he walked to the edge of the woods. "I'll do it myself."

"Revali," Daruk said as the Rito Champion crouched low. "Revali!"

The Rito Champion sent them one last glare over his shoulder as launched himself into the air, leaving them all to shout after him. Link only watched for a moment before he grasped Mipha's hand and began running. He felt bad as he heard the Zora Champion squeak something out. He knew that she was close to her own breaking point, but he still needed her, and more importantly, Revali would need her.

The Hylian Champion continued his sprint as the Rito Champion disappeared over the horizon. He knew that he couldn't possibly hope to catch up on foot, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.

A/N: ... This went from being enjoyable to kinda painful.

Guest Reviews:

Guest: I feel like Ganon has reasons for doing the things that he does, we just only ever see them hinted at. Revali hurting is an understatement.