Mipha did her best to quell the rush of anxiety that rolled over her. Link had informed her the previous night that he, Revali, and Teba would be going to reclaim the Divine Beast as soon as Revali was ready to do so. To her shame, she had not responded well; however, Link, patient and calm as ever, had helped to ease her nerves. As little as she had liked it at the time, she was at least grateful that he had given her warning ahead of time.

She wasn't sure she would have been able to handle the shock otherwise.

"Do you have the potions?"

"Yes," Link replied patiently. It wasn't the first time she had asked and it likely wouldn't be the last. "I'll be fine."

"Y-yes, I'm sure you will. Just please don't do anything terribly reckless."

"I won't. Besides, Revali will be there too."

For some reason, the knowledge that the Rito Champion would be there wasn't comforting to her in the slightest. She took a deep breath and released it slowly as she continued her struggle to maintain control of herself. She knew if she broke down, it wouldn't change anything, and it would take hours for her to regain control.

"Hey," Link said with a smile as he set his hand on her shoulder, "there's something I think you should know."

"I am it," Mipha replied weakly. She was in no mood to mess around at the moment.

"You're not a consolation prize… and yeah, you're it."

Mipha stared at him uncomprehendingly as he nodded to her one last time before joining Teba and Revali on the landing platform. The only thing she could be sure of was that there was something more he had been trying to tell her in then she understood in those words. The Zora Princess was certain that he wasn't trying to make her feel better after Revali's comment. He had already asked her opinion on the matter, and while she admitted that the Rito's statement had stung, it wasn't something that weighed on her.

She would have to figure it out later.

Her breathing became more ragged as Link climbed onto Teba's back and the trio took to the skies. She began clasping her hands together, nearly cutting herself with her claws as her grip tightened.

"Mipha!"

She barely registered the sound of her name but turned to find Medli and Kass rushing towards her.

"My apologies, Lady Mipha," Kass greeted as they reached her, "we meant to be here to see them off as well."

"It's my fault," Medli sighed. "I overslept… again."

"There is nothing that can be done about it now."

Even through her anxiety-filled haze, Mipha noticed that Kass' eyes were asking her for something. Thankfully, what she saw in the Bard's eyes gave her something else to focus on, helping to calm her down a little.

"I had been hoping to see them off. Well, since you're both here, I was hoping that I could… ask a favor of you both," Medli said as she fidgeted slightly.

"May I presume this has something to do with your date with Master Revali," Kass asked.

"Your what?" Mipha asked, flabbergasted by the question.

"Well, yes. I don't really have any nice clothes and I was hoping you two could help me to pick something out."

"If you were to take care of your clothes, they would last longer and look much nicer."

"I know, but I just can't seem to… "

"Lady Mipha, would you mind accompanying us?" Kass asked, not quite curtly, but something close to.

"I am not very, uh, knowledgeable when it comes to clothing," Mipha replied, "but, I will help in any way I can."

"Thank you!" Medli cried.

Mipha was beginning to feel uncomfortable as Kass' eyes were speaking to her again. She hadn't even thought that the Bard was capable of acting the way he was.

The Zora Champion could feel the Bard's gaze on her as they made their way to the tailor's shop. Having eyes on her was nothing new. As a member of the Zora royal family and the heir to her father's throne, she was accustomed to having eyes on her at all times, whether they were the critical eyes of Muzu or the defensive gaze of Seggin. Despite all of that, she found she was particularly unsettled under Kass' scrutiny. The only conclusion she could draw was that she was used to the Bard having a calming and reassuring presence as opposed to a cool, detached countenance.

She could only speculate as to what had sparked the change, all of which pointed to the Rito Champion.

"May I make a suggestion?" Mipha started, deciding to use a more diplomatic approach to send Medli away. She had no doubts that Kass would remain tight-beaked until his younger sister was no longer present.

"Please do," Medli answered quickly.

"I think it would be best if you were to go pick out something that you thought was nice, and then Kass and I will help to decide whether or not the outfit is suitably flattering."

Mipha wasn't really sure what would be considered flattering among the Ritos. In fact, she wasn't really sure what was considered flattering among any of the races. She could only really say what she thought looked nice on Link, and what looked nice on the Hylian Champion wouldn't fit the Rito girl.

"Oh! That sounds like a plan," Medli said before promptly leaving her two companions behind.

Mipha stared after the Rito girl, still shocked to hear that Revali had started courting her so soon. She had known him for years and he barely acknowledged her, let alone opened up to her in any fashion.

"I must apologize, Lady Mipha," Kass murmured as his gaze finally left her to follow his sister. "I know that I have not been entirely pleasant this morning. I just happen to be… concerned and I was hoping to ask you if you know anything about this date, but I suppose your surprise answers that question."

"If it helps to set you at ease, Revali is not as… delicate as he could be in some situations; however, I don't think he means her any harm."

"It's his lack of delicateness that worries me most," Kass sighed. "I'm afraid that Medli may have misunderstood and when Master Revali makes that clear he will not do so gently. I know that I should not speak of him so, but considering recent events, I hope you understand…"

"I do," Mipha replied as Medli continued poking through the various outfits. She could understand Kass' fears well. Were she in his position, she would be seriously considering confronting Revali as soon as he returned to the Village.

There was nothing she or Link could say as the Rito Champion would blow them off at best. In fact, their interference would likely make it worse for the Rito girl. "I wish Urbosa was here."

"Lady Urbosa?"

"Often, it seems like she and Revali are one step away from strangling each other but sometimes she can actually reach him."

"Perhaps she and Lord Daruk will be arriving soon."

"I hope so."

The rest of their shopping spree was filled with Kass doing his best to steer Medli towards particular styles and colors as Mipha gave quiet encouragement. It took longer than she would have liked, but eventually, the Rito girl chose a deep red shirt that helped to accentuate her beautiful highlights.

The siblings asked if she wanted to accompany them further; however, she excused herself as politely as she could.

When the Zora Champion reached the inn, she pulled out the letter she had received from her father the night prior. Certain details concerning her diary had blotted the rest of the letter's contents much to her dismay.

She scanned through the letter again. Most of it was typical pleasantries to let her know that he, Sidon, Muzu, and several of her friends were doing well, and to inform her of the Domain's current state.

While there wasn't much to recover from in terms of damage, the citizens were still shaken that their guardian Beast had nearly washed them away. Even so, their morale had been bolstered by the knowledge that their Princess was alive and well.

It gladdened her to know that her people were no longer in danger.

Her face still burned when she read that Sidon had found her diary, though her father made no mention as to whether or not her brother had read it. It seemed that his main interest in telling her of it was to help regain some of her memories. It likely wouldn't help her remember anything as she remembered most of her entries well.

Hylia in heaven above she hoped her brother didn't read any of her later entries.

Her father had ended the letter by informing her that Kodah had made an attempt to see her when she had been in the Domain, and though she had missed her the first time, she still sought Mipha's audience. The Zora Princess wasn't sure what to make of the information. She and Kodah had never truly been friends, but not long after Link had come to the Domain, she began receiving the silent treatment from Kodah.

To make an already confusing matter much more so, her father speculated that it had something to do with Link. Mipha couldn't be sure it was true, but she hoped fervently that it was not. She knew that Kodah had possessed feelings for the Hylian at one point, which was sure to make any discussion about Link uncomfortable at best.

With Link's departure finally far from her mind, Mipha pulled a piece of parchment towards herself and began to craft her response.

The Rito Champion stared down at his Divine Beast with trepidation. The last time he had been here, he had been knocked out of the sky. Even with Link and Teba there, he still wasn't sure whether or not they would be able to handle it.

More specifically, his concern was about Link's ability to handle himself.

It wasn't the Hylian's skill that concerned him. Teba had assured him that Link was a quick and adaptable shot. No, what concerned him was Link's lack of maneuverability. He wouldn't be able to outfly anything that came after him, which left him and Teba to distract the sentries.

"Remember to call us if you need help!" Teba called to the Hylian on his back. Revali looked over at his two companions to find Link eyeing him.

"How about a competition!?" Link shouted to him. "Whoever takes out the most of them wins!"

Revali's eyes narrowed as he looked at the Beast below him and looked back at Link. Before he could form any more of a response, Medoh activated its shield below him.

"Get Ready!" he heard Teba shout as he dove down, ready to intercept whatever machines came his way.

As the first machine charged him, Revali lay his wings flat against his body as angled himself to the right. He rolled as he pulled his bow out and drew back, releasing a bomb arrow. He was rewarded with the sound of an explosion, but that was just the beginning.

'One,' he counted as another Sentry flew at him. The Rito Champion dove down below the machine, then pulled up sharply, forming a sharp arc around the machine. He pulled his feet over his head, firing another bomb arrow and hitting it dead on before it could even fire off a shot.

'Two.'

Revali looked over his shoulder to find Link hovering over one of the Sentinels that held up Medoh's shield. His eyes widened as the Hylian Champion drew and fired his bow in the blink of an eye. He had watched Link shoot a bow before, and he didn't remember the Hylian being anywhere near that speed.

The explosive arrow flew down and struck home. Medoh's shield flickered for a split-second before coming back up.

Teba, to his relief, wasn't struggling to handle his share of the Sentries. He dove, spiraled, and flipped, dodging any and every attack that came his way while returning fire at the same time. Teba had come a long way since Revali had last watched him fight. He couldn't help but feel a little pride swell up in him as he watched his protégé wreak havoc on the machines.

The Rito Champion returned his gaze forward as another Sentry charged towards him. It fired at him, forcing Revali to tip his right wing down, just barely dodging the projectile as it rocketed past him. He lit it up as he had the previous two.

'Three.'

He checked on Link's progress again. The Hylian Champion was making his way to the third Sentinel holding up the shield. The Sentinel took notice of Link and fired off a quick shot; however, Link simply collapsed his paraglider and fired another bomb arrow as the projectile that had been aimed at him passed by harmlessly.

With no other machines currently attacking him, Revali sped up, racing towards the tip of the machine where the last Sentinel was waiting. He looked over his shoulder to find another Sentry making its way toward Link.

The Rito Champion let loose a bomb arrow, causing the shield to fail for a brief moment before coming back, then he pulled his feet and wings in, rolling back. He spread his wings back out, as he tipped his back towards the ground, catching a quick glance at the machine gunning for Link.

As he dove, Revali spun around, reorienting so that he could pull back up. The Rito drew one last bomb arrow, letting it soar towards the machine as it charged its beam weapon. It shattered as Revali's explosive arrow struck it, causing it to fall from the sky as Link let loose his own arrow.

Below them, Medoh's shield failed entirely, causing the Beast to scream out.

"I took care of the last one!" Revali shouted over the winds. "Let's get down there before Medoh has the chance to recover!"

Link nodded, angling his paraglider towards the landing platform.

The Rito Champion turned his gaze to Teba to find his friend struggling to maintain his altitude. "I'll have to leave the rest to you two!" Teba called.

Considering the singed feathers on his wing, and how he was visibly struggling to remain airborne, Revali was inclined to agree. "Be careful!"

"Make sure you don't get shot down this time!"

Revali glared at the white-feathered Rito. It was still too soon for jokes like that.

"I'll meet you back at the Village!" Teba called before angling back towards the Rito Village.

The Rito Champion returned his gaze down to the landing platform at Medoh's rear. He dove down, landing smoothly even as he passed Link.

"Three," the Hylian Champion said as his feet touched down on the platform.

"Five," he replied indifferently. Though his competitive nature had taken over slightly before they had begun their assault, he hadn't believed he would feel any sense of accomplishment. Link had been out of his element in nearly every way possible during the battle, meaning that it would have been nearly impossible for Revali to not be leaps and bounds ahead of him. "It wasn't really a fair competition," he finished as the Hylian gave him an odd look.

Link shrugged before removing the Slate from his waist and setting it on the terminal.

"Revali…" The Rito Champion tilted his head, listening intently as Zelda continued softly. "Revali, you must proceed cautiously from here. Windblight, the Phantom that controls Medoh, was created specifically to kill you. In order to free Medoh, you and Link must work together, otherwise, Medoh cannot be reclaimed. Please be careful, Revali."

The duo turned to face each other. "I heard her too," Revali replied to the unasked question in Link's eyes. He folded his wings and closed his eyes, thinking carefully. So far, his track record when it came to being a team player was… poor. If what Zelda said was true, then he'd have to do better.

Revali gazed around Medoh's interior as he stepped into his Divine Beast. Though he had spent weeks, if not months, learning everything about the giant machine, it still appeared alien as he looked at the oily black masses that infected it.

"Malice," Link stated as he looked around with interest.

"I figured," Revali replied as he turned to the Hylian. "What? Never seen the inside of one of these things before?"

"I was inside Ruta and Rudania before, but this is my first time in Medoh… I think."

"Oh…" For some reason, Link's reply was extraordinarily awkward for the Rito to hear, and he couldn't put his finger on the cause.

"Mipha used to take me inside and show me how Ruta worked and I helped Daruk to figure out how to control Rudania."

Revali turned away, hiding the frown that he felt growing on his face. He had always known that the others had strong ties amongst themselves, but he hadn't really realized just how strong they were. As far as he could remember, he had never invited anyone, even Kaneli or Teba, into Medoh.

He felt a renewed surge of loneliness as he watched Link look around in wonder.

"So… what were the other Divine Beasts like?" Revali asked as they entered the central chamber.

"Well, they both had… floors," Link finished as he frowned at the large gap that separated both halves of the room. In order for Link to get across, he'd have to find a way to use the large blocks that were suspended along rails to access the other side.

Of course, there was another, faster method.

"Climb up," Revali grumbled as he crouched down. He had to bite back a snarky retort as the Hylian climbed onto his back. He had been doing his best all day to not only remain level-headed but to keep his tongue in check.

It was a lot harder than he had anticipated it being.

A part of him was complaining about how giving Link a ride made him no better than a horse; however, the more rational part of him argued that making Link work his way through on his own would force him to slow down. He was determined to reclaim the Beast quickly for personal reasons.

Besides, it couldn't hurt to be a bit more of a team player.

He flew the two of them to the other end of the room quickly, where they were able to proceed to the guidance stone.

Revali watched as Link set the Slate in the guidance stone.

"You okay?" Link asked, not even looking at him.

"Fine. Why?"

"You're acting odd." Link pulled the Slate out of the guidance stone and finally met his gaze.

"I said I'm –" Revali took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He tried again, this time in a much more controlled fashion. "I said I'm alright."

"Okay." Link said nothing more as he held up the map for them both to see.

"Let me take care of this one," Revali said as he pointed towards a marker on the tip of Medoh's wing.

Link nodded and handed over the Slate with no protest. With the piece of Sheikah technology in his hands, Revali took off, taking his moment alone to think.

He had numerous things he wanted to say to the other Champions, but every time he tried to find the words, they eluded him. Regardless, he knew he needed to say something. As much as he wished that everything he had said in the past could be forgotten, he knew it was a naïve wish. The one thing he had learned was that brushing problems under a figurative rug just made them into bigger problems later on.

He continued mulling over the problem as he set the Slate on the terminal, activating it. He supposed that given enough time, he could find the right words, but he couldn't be sure.

Why did saying sorry have to be so difficult?

He flew back, still lost in thought as he landed back next to Link. He crouched again, allowing the Hylian to climb back up before taking off and flying them to Medoh's left wing. He set Link down and together they made their way through the appendage silently.

He felt the need to say something, really anything that might convey what he needed to say, but as always, words failed him.

It wasn't just that Link was the one he had been the worst to, but he felt that if he could get it out to Link, then he could do the same for everyone else. He had always found Link to be the most intimidating of the other Champions, even Urbosa. Something about that casual silence he had kept up in the past had made him a giant in the Rito's mind.

He watched as Link solved a small puzzle in order to open a gate to their second terminal. If only there was a way to –

"I'm sorry," he blurted out suddenly, catching Link and himself by surprise.

"What?"

"I'm sorry," Revali repeated with a sigh. "I, uh… there were a lot of…" He took a deep breath as he did his best to steel himself. If he was going to say it, he would do so in a way that left him with at least a shred of dignity. "There were a lot of times where I said… a lot of uncalled for things. You were… are," he corrected, "a Champion and I haven't treated you with the respect you deserve. So, I'm sorry," he finished quietly as he folded his wings and looked away.

He hated apologizing. It was humiliating because, to do it properly, a person had to lower themselves and ask for forgiveness. He hated it, being forced to rely entirely on the mercy of another. It was a force entirely outside of his control, and he disliked the things he couldn't control.

There was a long moment of silence before Link replied. "I'm sorry too."

"What?" Revali asked as his eyes flicked back to Link. The Hylian's stare was making him feel uncomfortable.

"I didn't deal with your… attitude the best," Link sighed. "There were a lot of times I could have done things better."

They stood there awkwardly for a long moment, with neither really sure what to say. "Should we go kill Windblight?" Link asked after a moment.

"Yes!" Revali replied quickly, relief welling up in him as he was reminded of the task at hand.

They continued on, just as silent as they had been before their short conversation; however, it was a much less awkward silence. Even so, it was still charged with energy. Each step they took, each terminal they activated, brought them closer to Windblight. While he and Link had finally exchanged some sincere words, he couldn't help but wonder if they would be able to work together.

Without saying a word, both stopped just before the doorway that led onto Medoh's back, where they would find the control panel.

"Ready?" Link asked as they both stared straight ahead.

"Did you forget who you're talking to?" Revali asked snidely.

"Nope."

"Still want a contest?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Whoever takes out Windblight is the winner."

They exchanged a look before giving each other a determined nod. They both stepped out onto Medoh's back, trying not to be bowled over by the roaring winds.

"So, what usually happens?!" Revali shouted as they struggled to make their way to the control terminal.

"Malice, blue lights, and everything goes wrong!" Link shouted back.

That was exactly what the Rito Champion had been hoping to hear.

He stuck close to Link as the Hylian set the Slate on the terminal. As Link had predicted, there was an explosion of Malice, followed by threads of blue light that flew behind them and wove themselves into a monster. Blackened, purple skin, spider webbed veins that were blood red, mechanical parts interspersed throughout. It was almost exactly like what Mipha and Daruk had described, except for the giant, canon-like weapon attached to its arm.

"Move!" Link shouted as Windblight raised its weapon and fired off a shot. Revali felt the force of a small explosion from somewhere beside him. Without waiting for an invitation, he soared into the air.

Without wings, Link's only hope for being any help would be using a bow. That was of course unless something drove the creature down towards the floor.

The Rito Champion drew the Great Eagle Bow and readied a bomb arrow. He launched it, only for the Blight to dodge as it kept its weapon trained on him.

Revali had to roll and dive as his opponent fired off a quick series of shots, each resonating with an explosion. He grimaced as he realized that simply dodging wouldn't be enough. He'd have to leave ample room between him and the explosions.

Revali circled back around, readying another arrow. He let loose, flying after his arrow as he drew yet another. If Windblight had dodged the first, then it logically followed that it could and would dodge the second as well.

Revali smirked as Windblight dodged his first arrow. The Blight, only suspecting one arrow, wasn't ready for the second that followed, striking home even as it came to rest from its dodge. The force of the blast knocked the Phantom down towards Medoh's back.

"Link! Now's your chance!" Revali called out, hoping that Link would be able to seriously injure the Phantom before it could put up a serious fight.

Revali grimaced as something was wrong. Even though the Hylian Champion didn't respond, he didn't dare turn his gaze from Windblight. The Phantom righted itself, but before Revali could open fire again, it pointed with its gnarled hand.

The Rito Champions stomach dropped as he heard the sound of explosions. He followed the Blights finger, where he finally saw why Link had failed to respond when he had called. The Hylian Champion was being bombarded on all sides by four tiny machines.

While Link was a passable archer, he was nowhere near skilled enough to hit the minuscule, agile machines, not that it mattered. Even if Link were skilled enough to pull it off, he wouldn't have time to fire one arrow before he was attacked. All the Hylian could do was do his best to roll and block the shots as he was pushed closer and closer to the edge of Vah Medoh.

Revali looked back towards Windblight to find it staring at him intensely. It didn't need words to convey its message.

The Rito Champion was on his own.

Revali pushed himself higher as the Blight aimed at him. He then dove down, flying in a tight arc around the Phantom as they exchanged shots, neither one able to quite hit the mark. Revali would roll, firing as he felt the heat of the Blights projectile on his back as he would send an arrow hurtling back.

The Blight screamed in frustration, allowing Revali a brief moment to check on Link. The Hylian Champion was getting dangerously close to the edge. He'd have to break away from Windblight quickly if he were going to be able to help.

As though sensing his intentions, the Blight swung it's arm upward, as though scooping an invisible substance up. Revali's eyes widened as the air currents began to shift all around him drawing him in. He grunted as a wind tunnel began to form, grabbing him even as it was still developing. He felt himself lose control entirely as he was sucked into it.

His stomach churned as the world spun violently around him. His wings, legs, neck screamed as the winds pulled them all in different directions. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't gain any bit of control. All of his years spent mastering the sky, and now the winds he was supposed to be the master of were throwing him around like a doll.

He managed to catch the briefest glimpse of Windblight, who watched him with apparent interest. Before Revali's head was snapped away, he saw his enemy raise its canon, ready to fire. Thinking on the fly, Revali managed to remove and light a bomb arrow, flinging it as far away from him as he could. He hoped the force and heat of the explosion would disrupt the wind tunnel before Windblight fired its beam.

He felt the heat from the explosion of his arrow as the vortex became unstable. He felt himself being flung outwards as another explosion sounded nearby. He crashed painfully onto Medoh's back, feeling burns, bruises, and the beginnings of whiplash.

He struggled to fill his lungs as a large shadow fell over him. Even with the Phantom above him, he looked around trying to find Link. To his relief, the Hylian had somehow managed to push back against the four machines. While he was still on the defensive, he was also on much firmer ground now, though one blast could still be enough to knock him off.

His eyes shifted to Windblight, who hung above him, staring down at him. It raised its canon and aimed at him as the Rito glared defiantly back. It frustrated him that he had come so far, only to die before he could fulfill his duty as a Champion. He had spent years honing his abilities, only for it to be utterly useless as he stared death in the face. Even so, he reached for his bow and one last arrow.

For some reason, he thought back to the Blood Moon. There, he had been willing to accept death, just as he was now; however, he hadn't fought back then. He nocked the arrow as he remembered what he had seen in the memories the Master Sword had contained. Link had been too battered and broken to put up much of a fight, yet he had stood back up, ready to fight until there was no life left in him.

It had made him so angry because he had seen the true difference between him and the Hylian. He had seen which one of them truly was the better man. When faced with death, he had been willing to go quietly while Link was still giving his all. When faced with such a reality, he had been forced to take a hard look at himself. While he still couldn't say he deserved to be a Champion, he could at least follow the example of a true Champion.

If he wasn't worthy of being a Champion, then he would become someone who was worthy, even if it was in the last seconds of his life.

As he raised his unsteady arrow, Windblight lowered its gun and reached towards him, grabbing the Great Eagle Bow and snapping it. Time slowed as the Blight floated out of his reach and aimed its weapon at Link.

"Link! Look out!" he shouted as loud as he could.

Though his voice was weaker than normal, the Hylian still heard him.

Link ducked behind his shield as the Blight's weapon flashed. Revali could just make out the Hylian pushing back against the beam, sending it straight back at Windblight.

The Blight screamed as the explosion tore through it, flinging it across Medoh's back. Revali smirked as he quickly got back to his feet.

He took to the air again, determined to help Link, but he was too late. Knocking back the Blight's attack had come at the cost of leaving himself open to an attack.

Revali felt his heart stop as Link tumbled off of Medoh's side and fell to the ground below.

A/N: So, not to get you too involved in my personal life, I'm moving next week, so I don't know how soon I'll be able to update again. Just forewarning you all.

Guest Reviews:

Guest: Yep, Revali and Medli will go on a "date." Don't know how I roped myself into that one.

E.A.T.: Yes, I am certifiably insane. Makes life very fun (on a side note: I will be sure that future chapters lack humor so that you don't half to worry about waking your family).

Nightbreed1: Scuse' me? Ship Lipha? Very much so! I was just hesitant as I didn't want this story riding on a ship as opposed to, you know, actual composition, plot, and characterization.