A/N: So, if you haven't noticed, this chapter is titled. When you, you know, reach the Champions' Ballad, you should go to YouTube and search for Mr. Accordion's Champions' Ballad (should be about three and half minutes). That was what the lyrics were written to.

The Blight was still recovering from its own attack, leaving the Rito Champion with an opening to retreat to Medoh's edge. Even if the machines that were waiting there had been expecting his charge, they would have been unable to hit him as he pulled his wings in, making himself as small as possible.

Revali dove over Medoh's edge, his eyes scanning for any sign of the Hylian. While Link had been blasted off the ledge, the Rito Champion was certain that he was still alive. Link had a paraglider; however, that wouldn't help him if he were unconscious or falling uncontrollably.

He caught sight of the Hylian, who was falling with his arms and legs spread out.

He pressed his wings further against his body, picking up speed as his form became more streamlined.

Link shot him a glance as he caught up to the Hylian. "I've got an idea!"

Before Revali could inquire any further, Link reached into his pouch and pulled out a massive, stone sword. He flung it as hard as he could. As the sword plunged below them, Link pulled out the Slate and pointed it at the Cobble Crusher.

The Rito Champion, suspecting that the Hylian was going to freeze the massive weapon in place, dove again so that the Hylian was above him. He felt Link land on his back as Revali landed clumsily onto the sword.

"We're cutting it close," he growled as he readied his gale. Not only would he have to create an updraft in record time, but he would have to do so with a passenger. It was too many firsts for his comfort. "Hold on!" he called as he flapped, launching high into the sky as the Cobble Crusher resumed its fall towards the ground.

He felt the familiar winds of his gale whip around him as they pushed him up. Revali was surprised at how few adjustments he had to make to accommodate Link's weight. He would have thought that adding the Hylian's weight would have made it harder to ride the updrafts upwards; however, their ascent was as smooth as the chaotic winds would allow.

"I'll distract the Blight!" Link shouted as they raced up towards Medoh. "You take its sentries!"

"I'll need another bow!"

Though the Blight had a single, mechanical eye, Revali was still under the impression that it widened as he and Link reappeared at the top of Medoh. It screeched as it raised its cannon while its diminutive, mechanical allies raced towards them.

"Get ready to go!" he called as he swooped down, staying just above the floor of Medoh's back.

"Here!" Link shoved something into his hands just before he leaped off Revali's back.

Revali looked at the bow in his hands, frowning as he noticed the sleek black and purple design. The Royal Guard's bow was supposed to be more fragile. His frown morphed into a grin as he decided that it only meant he'd have to make his shots count. He could do that. The only problem was that he only had one bomb arrow left.

Revali flew back between Link and the machines that had been barraging him earlier, drawing them away from the Hylian.

The Rito Champion thought quickly as he swerved, dove, and rolled out of the way.

He glanced quickly over to find Link holding the Blight at bay with the Master Sword and Hylian shield. Windblight screamed in frustration as it lowered its cannon and fell back down towards Link, trying to grasp the Hylian. Link sidestepped and delivered a swift cut along the Blight's arm, forcing it to withdraw quickly.

Watching the fight brought back the memory of his brief bout with the Blight. It was in that reflection that he began to form a plan to deal with his four pursuers. It would risk getting blasted away, but if he timed it properly, he could destroy all four with the same arrow.

Revali landed on Medoh's back and crouched down, waiting with bated breath as the four machines charged towards him. He fought back the natural instinct to dodge as he watched them charge up their shots, attempting to blow him away entirely.

Unfortunately for them, they waited too long. Revali flapped, calling forth a gale that sent him shooting above. Flipping over, he drew his final bomb arrow and aimed it down below, where all of his opponents had been pulled into his wind tunnel. He let loose his explosive arrow, watching with satisfaction as the arrow was propelled faster than he had expected. The explosion that followed destroyed the four mechanical beings.

With Windblight's machines out of the way, Revali turned back to Link and the Blight. The two were still engaged in the same dance that he had last seen them in. The Blight was visibly agitated as it tried to use its free hand to swipe at the Hylian, but Link retaliated with a swipe of his sword.

Finally having enough of its battle with Link, Windblight retreated just out of reach and raised its hand, much as it had before summoning a tornado for the first time.

Revali reached into his quiver, pulling out a shock arrow this time. He nocked it and sent it hurtling into the Blight, following it up immediately with another. Windblight began spasming violently as the shock arrows sent electricity coursing through its body.

"You go high and I go low?" Link asked as Revali landed next to him.

"No. That's what I'd normally do," Revali replied as he fired one more shock arrow to buy them some time.

"Can you get me high?"

"What is it with you and stupid questions?"

Windblight finally recovered, screaming at both of them as it raised its cannon.

"I'll buy you a second," Link said as he stepped in front of the Rito holding his shield up. Despite what had happened earlier, it tried firing off a quick shot, dashing forward as Link's shield was knocked to the side.

"Now!" Revali shouted as he created another vortex of air. He was launched skyward as Link backflipped out of the Blight's grasp and pulled out his paraglider, following close behind Revali.

The Rito Champion dove down sharply as he left his wind funnel, arcing around the lower half of the Blight as he drew two more shock arrows. He fired in quick succession as Windblight attempted to snatch him from the air. It shrieked in pain as it received another dose of electricity.

Above it, Link collapsed his paraglider and pulled out the Master Sword. Windblight must have sensed the descending Hylian, as its attention shifted back, creating an opening for Revali to pepper it with more shock arrows.

Link fell towards the convulsing creature, ramming the Blade deep into its chest. He cut a large gash into its chest as gravity continued to pull him back down towards Medoh.

The Hylian Champion collided with the ground, rolling away from the Blight as it too fell. The Rito remained airborne, keenly watching as Link cautiously approached the prone the Phantom.

Windblight pushed itself up, glaring at the Hylian with its single eye. The orb in its head flickered in and out even as it crawled towards him. Link approached slowly and raised the Master Sword, but before he could drive it home, Revali dove down and flipped around, kicking the blade straight down into the Blight's eye.

Windblight lurched back, screaming as it clutched uselessly at its ruined eye. Revali watched, becoming mildly ill as the Phantom contorted in fashions that no being should be able to achieve. Within a matter of seconds, it exploded, leaving the two Champions alone on Medoh's back.

"…Well, I suppose that means that I am the victor, naturally," Revali gloated as he folded his wings with a smirk.

"No," Link replied with a firm shake of his head. "My arm, my sword, my win."

"Oh, don't start. We both know that you weren't the one that applied the force."

"That's not how that works."

"Be a gracious loser, will you? You're giving us Champions a bad name."

Link rolled his eyes as he turned away, taking the Slate in hand as he walked away.

"Fine," Revali conceded as he followed the Hylian towards the control terminal. "When we finally meet back up with them, we'll have Daruk and Urbosa be the judges."

"No," Link replied firmly as he continued onwards. "Mipha will find out I fell off."

"And?"

"I'll tell Teba that you broke his bow."

"You wouldn't!"

The duo glared at each other for a long moment before giving each other an uneasy nod.

"We'll say you dealt the finishing blow," Link muttered as he turned back to the terminal and activated it.

The Rito Champion felt a shudder travel through Medoh as the highlights that had once been a dark red returned to the soft blue that he remembered.

The Divine Beast greeted him with a grudging respect, as though he were a rival; however, the reunion was short-lived. Medoh issued him a challenge, a challenge to see who could wreak more havoc on the Calamity before a golden light surrounded him, blotting everything from view.

"Whoa, whoa!" Daruk rumbled as a Rito child was nearly bowled over by a frantic adult. He set one hand on the Rito's chest, holding him back as he scooped up the yellow-feathered child. "Ya alright?" he asked as he let go of the adult.

The wide-eyed child nodded quickly, visibly frightened by the Goron.

"Don't worry!" he chuckled. "I won't hurt ya! Now, let's go find yer –"

"Kotts! Lord Daruk!" a familiar voice called.

Daruk turned to find Kass rushing towards them. "Kass! How've you –"

"Are you all right?" Kass asked quickly as he quickly lifted the child out of the Goron Champion's hand. He let out a deep breath as the child nodded. "Thank you," the Bard murmured as he turned back to Daruk. "To answer your question, I have been well. If I may ask, how long have you been here?"

The Goron Champion wasn't bothered by the shortness of Kass' response. He figured that maybe the sight of the Divine Beast heading straight towards the Village would stress out most people.

"We just got here," Urbosa replied as she came around the other side of Daruk holding another child.

"Tulin?! Where are your parents?" Kass quickly took the other child in his other arm.

"I don't know," the child shrugged, not concerned in the slightest by the commotion going on around them.

"Now is not the time to be wandering away from your mother and father," Kass scolded lightly with a small frown on his face.

"Medoh doesn't scare me. Dad will take care of it, just like he did a few days ago."

"That may be, but you can't –"

"Tulin!" a female voice shouted.

"Over here, Saki!" Kass called as his eyes scanned the rushing crowds.

"Tulin! Where have you been!?" A female Rito appeared out of nowhere, snatching the little boy out of Kass' arm and rushing off with him.

"We saw Mipha at the inn. Where are the other two?" Urbosa asked curtly as she stared at the descending Beast.

"Masters Revali and Link went up to engage Medoh earlier. I have not seen them since."

"Thanks," Daruk muttered as he cracked his knuckles. "We'll take it from here."

"Oh, yes we will," Urbosa growled as she started pushing her way through the crowd. Daruk followed close behind, not sure what the Gerudo Champion had in mind until he saw Link and Revali standing side by side, watching as the Divine Beast landed on the spire that the Village had been built around. Daruk braced himself as the ground shook beneath, signaling the Beasts landing.

All four present Champions watched with fascination as Medoh raised its wings and faced Hyrule Castle. It remained there, immobile as the Village watched on.

Slowly, everyone began mulling around again, albeit quickly and with several nervous glances towards the massive machine that hung above them.

Daruk's gaze was drawn back to Link and Revali. Despite the fact that Urbosa was standing directly behind them, the two younger Champions had yet to notice her. That was until she gripped both of their shoulders and leaned down so that her head was between them. He had no idea what she said but, judging by the way they both tensed up, it was nothing good.

"Back to the inn?" Urbosa asked with mock sweetness as she turned herself and the other two around, not loosening her grip on them at all.

"I think so," Daruk sighed.

The Goron Champion followed behind the other three, shaking his head as Urbosa marched them forward. While he was not pleased with either of them, he was nowhere near as upset as the Gerudo Champion.

They returned to the inn, where Mipha was sitting, fidgeting with a package nervously as Urbosa ordered the Rito and Hylian to sit down. The Zora Champion quickly relocated next to Link, beginning her healing process despite a disapproving look from the Gerudo Champion.

"Where do you want to start?" Urbosa asked as her fingers found her temple.

"Listen, Little Guy," Daruk started, deciding to get his part over with quickly. He had a feeling that no matter how much he said, Urbosa would have her own harsh words for both. "I know ya had good intentions, but ya have ta make sure we're all on the same page. Just runnin' off like that and not tellin' us anything wasn't a good plan. We didn't even know if ya were still alive."

"Then there's the whole business with Mipha!" Urbosa snapped, taking over entirely. "She obviously was not fit to be chasing after Revali like that."

"Urbosa, I was –"

"Don't you start!" The Gerudo Champion replied as she rounded on her. "We talked to the Stable masters. Did you know that they almost snuck you out of the Stable because they were worried that he had given you something mind altering?"

"He offered to leave me at the Stable, but I refused to let him go on alone," Mipha replied weakly.

"Then you both should have stayed!" Urbosa took a deep breath before continuing, somewhat calmer than before, "we understand that it was a bad situation and you were doing what you thought was right, but next time, take five seconds to think."

Link nodded. Daruk was grateful that the Hylian had the grace to look ashamed this time. Ordinarily, he had a habit of keeping his face neutral when being lectured. The Goron was sure that an expressionless response would have only upset the Gerudo even more.

"And then, there's you!" she continued her flashing eyes focused on Revali. "First and foremost, the next time you have the brilliant idea to run off and nearly get yourself killed, I will personally tie you to Daruk's back, and if that doesn't work, I'll knock you out of the sky myself. It'll save us the trouble of tracking down your broken self."

Daruk frowned. He was upset too, but she was starting to toe a line and it wouldn't do anyone any good for her to stray over that line.

"I won't actually knock you out, but I will consider it," Urbosa growled as she corrected herself. "And then, there are those lovely comments you made right before you went and nearly died. Which –"

"I know," Revali muttered quietly, catching everyone in the room by surprise. The Rito took a deep breath before turning to Mipha. "I'm sorry about what I said before. It was… rather low… and you deserved better." The Rito Champion turned back awkwardly and hung his head, not looking at anyone as he waited for Urbosa to continue.

Urbosa took several deep breaths as she massaged her temples furiously. "You had best hope that apology was sincere."

The Rito nodded, still looking down at the floor.

"Well then, I suppose we'll leave it at that," she sighed as she crossed her arms. She was silent for a long moment as her fingers tapped against the inside of her arm. "How long do we have?" she finally asked as she turned to Mipha.

"For?" Mipha asked nervously.

"For the thing that we discussed earlier."

"Oh… Oh! Yes, that. She said she was hoping not long after they returned from Medoh."

"Right," Urbosa muttered. "You," she said as she pointed to Revali, "get up and put this on," she finished as she took the package that Mipha had been holding and handed it to him.

"What is –"

"Questions later."

Daruk grinned as the Gerudo Champion chased the Rito out of the room while commanding him none too gently to put on the contents of the parcel. He always found it amusing when she tried to help their younger allies, only for them to misunderstand.

"He's grown," she murmured as she sidled up to him while they waited for Revali to return.

"He has," the Goron agreed as he stroked his beard. "I thought I was gonna have ta knock their heads together again, but it looks like they're sortin' themselves out."

"Too bad they couldn't have done that a few days ago."

He chuckled as she rubbed at her eyes.

"Ya know, ya might miss all this when we're older."

"I'll miss watching them make mistakes that could very well get them killed?" she asked with a raised brow.

"Uh… not exactly what I meant."

"I know, but you made it too easy."

"Glad ta see you're back," Daruk replied dryly.

"I almost believe that."

They frowned at each other for a moment before they began chuckling. Though the woman knew how to get on his nerves, he found that he enjoyed her company more often than not. It was also a relief to have another adult around. While the younger three were by no means children, they were still maturing and often their emotional needs were beyond him. Urbosa, on the other hand, not only understood those needs but also helped him maintain a sense of order.

"Well… uh…"

"You're lookin' good!" Daruk grinned as Revali rejoined them.

"Hmm," Urbosa hummed in discontent as she set herself in front of the Rito Champion and began straightening his new tunic. "It's too big."

"We can fix that," Mipha replied as she pulled a needle from her nightstand. "I mean, if you still remember how to…" she trailed off as she sent Link an uncertain glance.

The Hylian eyed the small object curiously before taking it in his hand. "Do you have any extra thread?"

He nodded his thanks as the Zora handed him a small spool of thread. "Go put that back on inside out," Link said as he pulled threat out and looped it through the eye of the needle. Revali did as he was told, much more quickly this time. Link knelt down and held the edge of the knife against the seam.

"Whoa, what are you doin' Little Guy?" Even if the tunic was a little large, that didn't mean that they needed to cut it up.

"If I split the seam, I can tighten it."

"Why is that so important?" Daruk asked as he watched the Hylian carefully take the point of the knife and deftly cut through the seams, splitting a section of the tunic open.

"There are a couple of things that make clothes flattering," Urbosa explained absently as she grabbed the newly loosened fabric and held it against the Rito's chest, leaving no extra space between the fabric and Revali's feathers. "Color is one."

Color was something that Daruk could understand. The dark blue tones of the tunic fit Revali well, but oddly enough, so did the emerald green accents. They matched his eyes even as the blues matched his feathers.

"The other," Urbosa continued as she held the sides in place, allowing Link to create a new seam, "is fit. If we had left this baggy, it would have made him look… flabby."

"Be nice," the Goron grunted as Revali grimaced at the comment.

"I am being nice," she replied as Link continued down the side. "By tightening it, he can show off his form. As I understand it, you have what's considered the ideal form for a Rito," Urbosa continued as she gave Revali a pointed look.

The Rito Champion began fidgeting almost exactly like Mipha.

"I wonder if that would be biological," Mipha murmured to no one in particular.

"Biological?" Daruk asked with a frown. Most of this was going far over his head.

"A sleeker form would help to make him more aerodynamic, meaning he would be a much better hunter."

Sometimes, he wished that they would use regular words rather than the large ones that they favored.

"She means he can move through the air better because of his shape and size," Link stated, as though sensing the Goron's question.

"I suppose that would make the Rito more like us Zora than I imagined," Mipha continued thoughtfully, evidently unaware of Daruk's confusion.

"I see." He didn't really, but he wasn't about to make that clearer than it already was. All he wanted to do right then was find a quiet place and sit down with a nice rock roast. Despite his desire to wander off in search of food, he remained where he was as Link finished his task.

Revali was sent away again to put the tunic on the right way.

"Much better," Urbosa said as Revali returned. She straightened his tunic again as well as straightened and fluffed the feathers on his face. "You look very nice," she finished as she stepped back, giving him one last once-over.

"Thanks," Revali replied as he rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath.

"Thank me by showing Medli a proper gentleman, yes?"

"Right…"

"Now then, why don't you escort me out while you wait?" Urbosa suggested, not giving Revali a chance to agree as she wrapped her arm around his. To Daruk's amusement, she had to remind the Rito to actually lead her outside as opposed to taking the lead herself.

A large rumble from his stomach reminded him of his need for a hearty meal. "Well, I'm gonna go find some grub. Both of ya behave yerselves for Urbosa, okay?"

Link and Mipha gave him an odd look before exchanging a glance between themselves. Daruk shrugged, shaking his head with a chuckle as he ambled out the inn. Sometimes, he was sure that he was the only sane one in the entire group.

Revali could not remember a time where he was more self-conscious than he was as he walked through the Village with Medli's wing wrapped around his own.

"I'm really sorry about that," Medli mumbled as she stared down at the ground in front of their feet.

"Don't worry about it," he replied quickly. "Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning something new."

"Did you get stuck in a tree after you spent an hour learning how to fly properly?" she asked glumly.

"Well…"

"I don't know if I'll ever really get the hang of flying."

He disagreed with the sentiment. She had indeed crashed into a tree and gotten herself tangled in the branches; however, the rest of their session had gone much better than he had expected. A part of him had been dreading the lesson considering the displays of clumsiness he had seen thus far but he had been pleasantly surprised. She was both a quick learner and receptive to his criticism. She had improved more than he would have thought possible, all things considered.

"I crashed into a cliff one time," Revali muttered as he covered his face with his free wing.

"You what?" Medli asked curiously, forgetting her own misadventure for the moment.

"When I was uh… trying to develop my updraft- "

"Revali's Gale?"

"Revali's Gale," he nodded, wondering why in Din's name he had chosen to name it that. It sounded utterly ridiculous when he said it now. "While I was developing it, it was… unstable. Anyway, one time the winds threw me out."

"But that's not the same as crashing into something."

"… I was spun around, and was so dizzy that I couldn't fly straight," he elaborated, trying to hide as much as of his face behind his wing as possible. He still struggled to believe that had actually happened. He had easily been the best flier around and he had still managed to crash into one of the largest objects possible.

"Hmm? I don't remember reading about that occasion," Medli said in wonder as she stopped for a moment.

"That was after I moved out of the Village." He was surprised that she had known the name of his ability, but he supposed it also made sense. Despite his attempts to avoid interacting with the Villagers, there were times where it could not be helped. During such occasions, he did his best to remain aloof.

Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. Rather than driving the Villagers away, it only seemed to draw them in.

"Yes, most of it was written in the Diary of Master Revali, the Rito Legend."

Revali stopped, staring at nothing as he found himself in a blind panic.

"It was quite the –"

"Don't believe a word of it!" he snapped suddenly, putting much more force into his voice than he meant to.

"What?"

"I'm not the author," he said, feigning confidence that he didn't feel.

"Oh…" Medli said as she tilted her head in thought. "That's a misleading title."

"I know," he sighed, hoping the unnecessary drama in his voice would mask his lie. The fact that he had kept a diary was enough to make his face burn but the fact that anyone had read it, especially Medli, was absolutely mortifying.

He wondered if he looked like Mipha after she had spent five minutes with Urbosa.

They continued on in an awkward silence. While there were plenty of things that they could talk about, the Rito Champion was unsure that any of it was worth talking about.

"Oh! Hi, Link! Hi Mipha!" Medli called suddenly, startling him out of his reverie. He frowned as they approached each other. While there was nothing inherently wrong with seeing them, he had still been hoping to avoid the other Champions, Teba, and even Kaneli during his and Medli's time. He supposed that it was inevitable that they would run into someone considering how small the Village was, especially when just about all of the inhabitants were capable of flight.

"You look very pretty," Mipha murmured to Medli quietly, pulling the Rito girl's attention away from Revali for a minute.

"Don't buy food from The Flighty Bard," Link muttered as he discreetly handed over a basket. "It's bad."

Revali's frown deepened at the Hylian's words. "The Flighty Bard" was a local tavern that had been there since he was a child. Back before the Great Calamity, the Rito Champion would treat Teba to a meal when his student had a particularly exceptional day. He had fond memories of the place and had secretly wanted to form new ones there.

At the same time, Link, despite his willingness to eat just about anything, had a refined pallet that he wasn't about to argue against. If the food didn't have his seal of approval, then it was probably best to avoid it, at least for the time being. As much as he would play it off as utterly meaningless to him, he did want his first date to be memorable for the right reasons and so far, all he had that would be memorable was the fact that Medli had gotten tangled up in a tree.

"Well, I hope that the rest of your night goes well," Mipha murmured with a gracious smile. Without waiting for any awkward salutes, the duo disappeared just as quickly as they had appeared, leaving Revali and Medli alone again.

"She's nice," Medli decided. "I wonder why she advised that we don't go to The Flighty Bard."

"The bad is food," he replied, nearly slapping himself as he mixed his words up again. He was really beginning to despise his nerves.

"Did Link give that to you?"

"He did." He was relieved that she had apparently missed his most recent mistake with words.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," he replied. He suspected it was the Hylian's cooking; however, he hadn't checked it yet. "Would you maybe want to… follow me for a bit?" he finished sighing at his lack of eloquence.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere important."

He led her to the nearest landing pad, where they took to the skies. He slowed down his flight as he led the already exhausted girl out to the Flight Range.

He looked around, taking everything in as he stepped inside the small entrance he had once called home. He felt drained as he looked around, finding everything almost exactly as he had left it. A few things had been moved around, but the majority of the decorations were the same. His hammock was where he had left it and above it, musky after so many years of neglect, hung the bow that Kaneli had given him.

He took the old, brittle piece in his hands, taking in every minute detail as he turned it over.

"Oh!" Medli said in an excited whisper as she watched him. "Is that the old bow mentioned in your… in the diary?"

"Kaneli gave this to me," he murmured quietly as he continued staring down at it. Seeing it and holding it reminded him of his youth. Even though those times were painful, he missed the simplicity of the old days. When he could escape from everyone and focus on one task so exclusively that he could forget everything for a time.

"May I… May I see it?" she asked uncertainly.

The Rito Champion handed it over, hoping that his internal concerns didn't show. He knew that Medli was captivated by historical texts and artifacts, but he was also more than aware of her clumsy nature. He was concerned that she would accidentally take hold of the item with too much force, trip, or find some other way in which to break the weapon.

Medli took hold of the bow gently but firmly, holding it still with the tips of her feathered fingers. She bent her head over it, angling so that she could analyze the bow with a single eye.

"Hmm," she hummed as turned it carefully, determined to see it from every possible angle.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm."

Deciding that he was not going to get an answer anytime soon, he contented himself with waiting as best he could. He found it odd that she had changed in an instant, changing from a clumsy mess into a calm, collected individual. Then again, he supposed it wasn't all that different from some of his companions Link went from cool and detached to borderline berserk if food was mishandled.

"This must have been beautiful in its prime," Medli sighed wistfully as she carefully handed it back to him. "Its plain, but sometimes I think the simplest things are the loveliest in their own ways."

"Like you…" Revali seriously debated slamming his head into the wall as his beak closed. He didn't know how or why his words refused to obey him, but after everything that had slipped out of him lately, he was ready to crawl under a rock.

"Th-thank you," Medli stammered as she stiffened up.

"…"

"…"

"Should we eat?!" the Rito Champion nearly squawked as he hurriedly hung the bow back up.

"A-absolutely!"

Revali's only source of relief was the fact that the basket had indeed been filled with food as well as a blanket. He tried to set it out smoothly; however, his embarrassment made him far too shaky and as a result, his movements were sloppy. He narrowly avoided spilling several items as he set the blanket out and placed the food on it.

They sat on opposite sides, determinedly not looking at the other as they admired various aspects of Revali's old stomping grounds. They sat like that for a few seconds before Revali finally grabbed a rice ball and took a small bite of it.

Thankfully, his date took that as her invitation to begin eating as well. After that, it didn't take her long to forget about his slip. "Wow, I can see why Mipha told me not to go to the Tavern!" she exclaimed after swallowing a mouthful.

Of the many things that he had been grateful for that night, the fact that Medli was not a messy eater was at the top of the list. He found it unlikely that he would not have rushed the meal if she had gotten as much food on herself as in her beak.

"I suppose that he is rather gifted when it comes to cooking," Revali grumbled, growing slightly jealous that Link's expertise had impressed her. He did his best to stamp it out as he took another bite of a rice ball. Really, it was his own fault that the Hylian was better at cooking than he was. If had taken the time, he could have progressed from passable to excellent just as he had with a bow.

"Are you okay?"

"It was just a thought," he answered, pushing aside his childish antics. He really needed to grow out of that. His date was content with that answer, refraining from prying any further as they continued eating.

The rest of the meal passed as Medli slowly started chattering as she had in the days prior. He could barely keep up as she spoke quickly, jumping from one topic to another for reasons that only she would be able to understand. Despite his inability to entirely keep up, he still enjoyed watching and listening, finding amusement in the way she tried to chew and swallow quickly so that she could continue speaking.

They finished with a large number of leftovers, which he packed away neatly while Medli explored the interior of the Flight Range.

"You haven't been here before?" the Rito Champion asked as he closed the basket and picked it up.

"No," Medli replied absently. "This place was considered sacred after you disappeared. It was kind of an unspoken rule that Teba was the only one allowed here."

"I see…"

They left the Flight Range behind and in the silence that accompanied them on their flight back to the Village, Revali thought about what she had told them. Medli seemed to know of his discontent as she remained silent even as they landed. She still took his wing as they made their way slowly back to her home.

"Is something wrong?" she finally asked as they stood outside her home.

"I guess I… didn't think there would be anyone left who remembered me," he finally sighed. Despite all of his accomplishments, he had figured that he would remain in the shadows of the other Champions, yet his old home was now considered sacred. So sacred, that no one set foot there except for Teba. He wasn't sure if that was the kind of legacy he had been meaning to leave behind.

"Oh, lots of people remember you. I'm actually quite surprised that the others haven't been flocking you since you've been out and about."

"I may have suggested that you only look like Master Revali," a voice said quietly. Kaneli approached them from behind, giving them an apologetic smile. "I know that you two are just now returning, but I was hoping that you would permit me to steal him for a while."

"Oh yes!" Medli replied quickly. She turned to Revali and gave him a large hug. "I had a good time! Thank you!" she chirped quietly. She let him go and rushed inside, sending him one last glance before he turned towards Kaneli.

"You just had to interrupt?"

"I know that you were having a good time, but this has waited long enough," Kaneli sighed. "This is something I should have told you years ago, but I was worried that you would go and do something stupid."

"What is it?"

"It's about your parents…"

"I'll go find him," Urbosa said as everyone waited uncomfortably. Kass had tried to gather them all at the top of the Village; however, Revali was nowhere to be found. Considering that Kass was just as lost as to the Rito Champion's whereabouts as the rest of them, she figured that he was no longer with Medli.

"Thank you," Kass said with a nod to her.

She returned it before stepping out into the cool night air.

The Gerudo Champion scanned the Village as she walked towards its lower levels. When he desired solitude, Revali chose to remain nearby, but in a spot only he could reach. Considering that she had not seen him flying towards the giant rock on top of the Village, she assumed he was somewhere in the lower levels. It was pure guesswork, but it was what she had to rely on at the moment.

She found him halfway down, sitting on the edge of a landing pad. He looked so small and unremarkable that she may have missed him if she hadn't been looking for him. "So, Feathers, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he responded mechanically.

"You're an awful liar."

"What? Are you wanting my whole life's story?"

"Just the parts that matter for now."

Revali remained silent, convincing her that he wasn't going to speak. She sighed as she stood back up, opening her mouth to inform him that Kass had been asking after him. "… Suppose that someone… did something awful to you, but you still loved them anyway."

"Okay," she replied as she settled back next to him, waiting for him to continue.

"What would you do if they had come back for you, but someone had sent them away?"

"Did your parents abandon you?" she asked quietly. While she had devoted much thought to why he behaved the way he had, she hadn't been able to reach any solid conclusions. That was the closest to an actual answer she had ever gotten.

"… in a forest when I was young," he muttered.

"And?"

"What do you mean 'and?'"

"You just asked what I would do if they came back for me, but someone sent them away." She didn't really need him to answer the question, as she anyone with basic reasoning skills could figure out what he was trying to say.

"… I guess during our inauguration as Champions, my parents came back here to find me. Kaneli, the Rito who took care of me when I was a child, sent them away, and only just told me…"

"So, what about it is ruffling your feathers?" she asked with a playful smile.

"Not funny," he growled as he shot her a glare.

"Sorry. What about it is plucking your feathers."

"I hate you."

"Noted, but you still haven't answered the question."

"Does it really matter?"

"Does Daruk eat rocks?" she asked with a raised brow. She was willing to admit that she could ease up on the teasing, but still. Sometimes, the Rito Champion made it a bit too easy to get under his skin.

"Dinsake!" he growled before taking a deep breath. "All of it! Why didn't he tell me that he was sending them away?! Why didn't he tell me they had come here in the first place?!" he ended there with a huff, but the Gerudo Champion was under the impression that he was far from finished.

"Do you think you were ready to handle something like that?" she asked quietly, dropping her normally playful façade.

"… No," he sighed dramatically as he threw his wings up. "I can't really say I blame him either. If I had been in his position."

"So, that's not what's bothering you," she clarified. She was pretty sure she had a good idea of what had him in such a poor mood, but she wanted him to say it out loud. It was more for his sake than anything else.

"No… Why did they come back?" he asked quietly enough that she had to strain in order to hear. "I could have gone on thinking that there was no hope of ever seeing them again, but…"

"Would you like a bit of wisdom that took me some years to accrue?"

"From an old hag like you?"

"Choose your next words carefully," she said, her eyes flashing as he eyed her. She continued on, as though he hadn't said anything. "Some people are quite simply the worst."

"That's it?"

"What? Were you expecting some eloquent speech about how you deserved better and that you shouldn't let this ruin your night, especially considering how good a time Medli had? I thought I'd save us both the time and cut to the important part."

"How considerate," Revali grumbled.

"Only the most considerate," she agreed, ignoring his poorly veiled jab. "Now then, Kass mentioned that he had something he wanted to share with us. Are you coming willingly or would you rather I dragged you there myself."

"I would like to see you try," Revali scoffed as he stood up and smirked down at her.

She smiled up at him sweetly for a moment before she got to her feet, reminding the Rito Champion which of them was actually taller. She could feel her smile widen into a grin as Revali's smirk faded slightly as she set a hand on his shoulder. "You were saying?"

"I suppose I'll go with you," he sniffed, bringing his overconfident exterior back up in the blink of an eye. "I would hate to see a little old lady like you embarrass yourself."

"My, what an unruly child. Perhaps I should ask Daruk to help calm you down."

"Weren't you just boasting about how you could handle me yourself?"

"Oh, but a little old lady like me couldn't possibly handle a strong young man such as yourself," she sighed as she draped her arm across his shoulders. With little effort, she managed to turn him back towards the stairs that led higher into the Village and began dragging him along. "I suppose that means that I'll just have to rely on a big, strong Goron to handle you."

"Maybe the odds aren –"

"I suppose I'll just have to have him sit on you," she continued over him.

"For Heaven's sake," he muttered as he shook her arm off. "It was just a joke."

"Oh, I know," she replied sweetly, "but if you ever call me an "old hag" again, I will have him sit on you."

"Nice to see your –"

"And we'll have Medli watch." She laughed heartily as the Rito froze with the strangest cross of indignation and horror splattered across his face. "Now, I don't believe we should keep Kass waiting for too much longer."

She laughed again as the Rito Champion sped up while trying to look unphased by her words. They returned to find Kass and the others waiting for them patiently.

"Thank you all for coming," Kass said graciously as they gathered around him. "As you know, I spent a great deal of time studying under a royal poet. After the Great Calamity, he composed a song that he hoped would inspire you when you awoke. Will you listen to my teacher's song?"

"We would love to," Mipha replied kindly as everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Thank you."

With nothing more to be said, Kass took up his accordion and began playing. After a few seconds, his playing was accompanied by words sung in a deep baritone voice.

"A Calamity long asleep,
wakes to disturb our peace,
there is no need to fear for there are heroes to answer the call.
Four pilots of beasts divine,
a Knight with sacred blade,
a Princess born with sealing power rise to heed the call.

Though the heroes fought valiantly,
for to save us was their cause,
they fell to evil's power that day, ends met in the fields where they lay.
The Princess remained,
strong and courageous was she,
she vowed to hold him back, a lone Champion's final stand.

With a healing touch,
A desire to serve all in need,
Vah Ruta's friend takes up her spear and rises once again.
Unrivaled aerial might,
arrows fired faster than a gale,
Vah Medoh's champion soars again to take back our skies.

A voice like thunder,
a heart stronger than any stone,
Rudania's chosen holds the line as the battle rages on.
A mother's ire awakened,
with wit sharper than any blade
Naboris' Champion makes known her wrath til evil burns away.

Courage unmatched,
the Princess' own appointed Knight,
a Sacred blade's own chosen hero heads the charge for his Princess dear.
Champions, hear her plea,
in the castle, she waits for thee,
to free her from its grasp and return our sweet light."

As Kass finished singing, his notes slowed until they faded completely, leaving only silence as the Champions exchanged looks among themselves. Urbosa watched as Link and Mipha gave each other reassuring nods, Daruk grinned at her, even Revali seemed to be sharing in the camaraderie as he folded his wings and smirked at Link and her.

"Thank you all for listening to my teacher's song," Kass said as their attention returned to him. The Gerudo Champion frowned as she heard a faint note of sadness in his tone. "Now, I wish to ask you one last favor before I wish you a good night."

"Oh, very well," Revali grunted. "I suppose we could hear you out."

"This may seem a silly request as each of you has more than proven your determination, but will you promise me that you will help the Princess to seal the Calamity away once again?"

Kass smiled in relief as each of them nodded when his eyes fell on them. In spite of his words, Urbosa found the request far from nonsensical. While each of them had indeed shown that they were more than willing to see the fight through no matter the cost, it was good to have the occasional reminder that they still had their obligations.

She smiled, satisfied as she saw a renewed resolve in each of her companions.

"Again, I thank you," Kass murmured as he gave them a small bow. "Now, if you will excuse me –"

"Hold on a minute," Daruk said as he stepped towards the Bard. "I was thinkin' we should all have a celebration tonight, and I think you should be there."

"Well, my wife –"

"Is more than welcome to accompany you," Urbosa interjected, "as well as Medli. I have been eager to meet this sister that I've heard so much about." She stifled a chuckle as she saw Revali flinch violently.

There was so much fun left to be had before they left.

"I will not make any promises," Kass replied diplomatically, "however, I shall at least try to get them both to come."

She caught a small smile on the Bard's face as he turned away and left, hopefully, to return shortly.

"Link, what are you doing?"

She turned back and raised a brow as Link and Mipha stared at each other.

"Cooking."

"This late at night?"

"I haven't eaten in hours," he replied as he started a small fire on a stone slab in the center of the room.

"If you had just stomached the food at The Flighty Bard or not insisted on making so much for Revali and Medli, we would not be having this problem."

"Wait…" Revali said as he narrowed his eyes. Urbosa sighed as the Rito started getting worked up about something that had happened earlier that day. Evidently, he had been too caught up in the moment to realize that his "unintentional" meeting with Link and Mipha was anything but.

The Hylian and Zora ignored him as they continued on.

"Daruk said we're having a party anyway," Link finished as though that were the end of the argument.

"Food is not a necessity for parties," Mipha sighed as she watched him stick the cooking pot over the fire.

"Sorry, little sister, but I have to agree with the Little Guy on this one."

"Who asked you to interfere with my date?!"

"You should know by now that eating this late gives you stomach aches in the morning."

"I'll be fine."

"Why were you interfering?!"

Urbosa rolled her eyes as the pointless bickering continued. Some things were just never going to change.

A/N: I need sleep.

Guest reviews:

E.A.T: Good reader, I would never not use humor. I think at some points, it's the only thing that makes this readable.

Guest(1): Occasionally, I can add some extra detail, like Revali's reasons for hating apologies, that I hope helps bump up the quality, only sometimes though.

Guest(2): Ah, a newly converted shipper. Come, our ship sails at dawn.

Nightbreed1: I won't make him speak gibberish, but I do like the idea of his foot being in his mouth. I think it's possibly a little more realistic and funny.