Darkness enveloped the Gerudo Champion on all sides, pressing in from every angle and obscuring everything that may have made up her surroundings. She had no idea how she had found herself in such oblivion, butthat was the last question on her mind as she spun around, looking for something to mark her location and help ground her in the darkness.
There was nothing Urbosa could use as a guidepost but she found that she still maintained a sense of direction somehow. It was a bit disorienting to have no idea where she was in regards to where she had started, but she didn't spend long questioning it. Soft crying reached out, begging for her attention from somewhere within the darkness.
After isolating the direction from which the sound was emanating, the woman explored the ground in front of her. Though her foot found nothing that would cause her to fall, she still took a cautious step forward.
Again, she explored the area before her, stepping more confidently when she found nothing that would hinder her progress.
Once certain that she could walk without fear of stumbling, the Gerudo Champion strode forward briskly. She kept her ear trained on the sound, letting it be her guide through the opaque world.
As the seconds stretched into minutes, and the minutes felt to be stretching into hours, Urbosa drew closer to the edge of desperation. Judging by the pitch of the crying, the person for whom she was searching was a child. Likely one who was lost and frightened in a land in which nothing could be seen.
Just as she was beginning to wonder if the child really did exist, she caught sight of small, blue-feathered form huddled on the ground.
The Gerudo Champion paused, taking a moment to collect herself before making her way to the child. Now that she could see him, she reined in her sense of urgency, worrying that she would only terrify the Rito child further.
She drew close, crouching down in the hopes that she could keep her height from intimidating him.
When she was within arms reach, she stopped, observing the Rito for a moment. Something about him, about the shade of his feathers, was eerily familiar to her. "Are you hurt?" she asked quietly.
The child flinched violently, whipping around to gaze at her through his feathered hands with a single, emerald eye.
Again, she was overcome with a feeling of nostalgia.
The Rito shrunk in on himself, shuffling away from her before huddling back down, trying to make himself as small as possible.
With great patience, the woman waited a few seconds, allowing the child to settle down somewhat before slowly approaching him once again.
The Rito managed to shrink down even further as she closed the distance again.
She crouched next to him for a few seconds, allowing him to grow used to her presence before finally reaching out and setting a hand on his upper back. As she had expected, the child tensed up even further; however, she didn't let that dissuade her. With slow, circular motions, she rubbed his upper back, murmuring to him as he relaxed little by little.
Tears were still streaming from his eyes as he finally uncurled from the little ball he had made of himself. He sat up, wiping at his eyes with a wing as he stared up at her with a mix of hope and hesitation.
As she had suspected, she knew the face that gazed up at her well.
"Are you hurt?"
The child shook his head, still sniffling.
"I'm glad to hear that," she replied warmly. "My name is Urbosa. May I ask yours?"
"… Revali." The child that would one day grow into the Rito Champion again shrunk inward as she sized him up silently.
"A lovely name," she said as she stood up, startling the child somewhat. "Well, Revali, I don't think this is any place for either of us." The Gerudo Champion leaned down, offering the Rito child her hand, "will you come with me?"
Revali wiped at his eyes once again, before nodding.
He reached up, wrapping a small, feathered hand around her index and middle fingers.
The pair stepped out into the unending darkness, foraging deep into the unknown as they searched for something to ground them in the darkness.
They walked on in silence, save for the occasional sniffling from the child at her side.
"… They promised they'd come back," he mumbled quietly.
"Who?"
"My parents."
Their relaxed pace slowed considerably, finally coming to a rest as she peered down at the child who clung to her fingers.
"Would you like me to help you find them?"
"...No," the child responded after an incredibly long pause. "They don't want me. They're only ever happy when… when…" he trailed off, unable to speak around the lump in his throat any more.
Kneeling, she wrapped him in a hug, knowing that no words could ever hope to heal the hurt that had been done to him. After a few seconds, she pulled away, tilting his face up with a single finger. "I'm happy you're here."
Urbosa was not prone to shedding tears or experiencing the wrenching of her soul, but the look in Revali's eyes nearly caused both. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the hurt, wariness, and hope that had all mixed into single expression that was conveyed almost entirely through his wide, emerald eyes.
No child should have had such a look on their face when being told that their presence was appreciated.
"Do you understand?" As always, the voice of Hylia was quiet, little more than a whisper in the recesses of her mind.
Nothing more was said as the Gerudo Champion took hold of his hand, holding it firmly but gently. Once again, she guided him through the darkness, not really knowing where they were going but determined to not let Revali know.
"You believed that I ignored your prayers…"
The quiet monologue paused as two voices rang out from somewhere in the darkness.
"Link… maybe we should stop and wait for someone to come for us."
"Just a little farther."
She felt Revali huddle close to her leg, using it to hide himself as two children ran by them. A Hylian boy with long, unruly, blonde hair and bright blue eyes was leading a small Zora girl with ruby red scales by the hand.
"Where are you two going?"
The two wandering children froze, turning toward her slowly. Urbosa couldn't help but smile as she watched a silent scuffle ensue between the two as both tried to step in front of the other, trying to stand between their friend and a stranger. It seemed that even as children, they'd had a strong desire to protect the other.
"Who are you?" Link asked with narrowed eyes as he won the silent contest he and Mipha had been engaged in.
"Urbosa," she responded following her introduction with a gesture down to the child next to her, "and this is Revali."
She could feel the Rito trying to melt into her leg as blue and gold eyes moved down to look at him.
"What are your names?"
"…" Link's eyes flicked back up to her, much of his suspicion gone. "Link. This is Mipha," he said as he motioned to the Zora next to him.
"You seem like good friends."
She laughed as Link responded with a grin and an enthusiastic nod while Mipha merely smiled shyly.
"Well, Link, Mipha," she said, nodding to each child as she called their respective names, "Revali and I were just looking for a place to stay. Would you like to join us?"
The Hylian and Zora exchanged a glance before turning back to her. "Yeah," Link answered.
Revali let go of her hand, moving to her other side and taking that hand as Link and Mipha joined them. Apparently, the Rito still wasn't ready to accept the company of most others.
"Stay close," Urbosa instructed as they set off once again.
"...You asked me for the chance to build a family of your own..."
The ground quaked beneath them, causing Mipha to yelp and Revali's grip to tighten around her fingers. Urbosa, however, was unphased by the familiar gait.
Daruk had appeared on the other side of Link and Mipha, much to the Hylian child's delight. He gave them all a wide smile while thankfully refraining from trying to 'gently' pat someone on the back. She returned his smile with one of her own.
"… You asked me for the chance to mother a child of your own…"
Ahead of them, a soft golden light appeared, with Urbosa's little bird standing in the center with closed eyes and folded hands. Despite everything that was happening, Zelda had a small smile on her face as though she knew of their approach despite how far away they still felt.
"… Have I not given you everything that you asked and then more still."
Urbosa couldn't help but agree as she looked over the ragtag group: a Rito that still clung to her fingers, a Hylian and Zora that relied on each other as much as they did her, and a Goron who kept his vigil with her.
"All of this," the Goddess murmured as the group advanced toward their missing member, "I did for your sake."
"-and she had the nerve to lecture me for running off on my own?" Rather than sounding angry or insulted, the Rito Champion sounded tired and mildly annoyed. "What if Link hadn't recovered enough in time?"
The Gerudo Champion remained motionless, only opening her eyes as the conversation continued without her.
"I don't know," Daruk said. "I'd like ta think you and her coulda done it yerselves. Either way, it won't do us any good ta think about what mighta happened."
"Aren't we supposed to stop and think about things like this?" She heard the scraping of Revali's talons, meaning he must have turned from wherever he was facing. "That's what you both were telling me after I tried to confront Vah Medoh alone."
"Yeah, but we didn't spend time thinkin' about what woulda happened if ya hand't made it, ya know?"
"I beg to differ."
"I'm sure she had her reasons."
"How does that make it any different than when I ran off?"
Urbosa grunted as she sat up, startling both of the Champions that had been watching over her. She was still quite sore and weak even after Mipha's healing, a potion, and what she could only guess had been hours of rest. She must have been in far worse shape than she had thought. "The difference is that I knew you would be close behind."
Revali was unable to respond for a few seconds, still taken aback. "… What does that mean?" he nearly spluttered.
"That means I wasn't trying to prove anything," she answered calmly. "We know that the Princess' power is fading, and it could have taken hours or days that we didn't have for Link to heal. I also know that neither Daruk nor Mipha could have made the trip and you were on the verge of collapsing when I got back from the Yiga's hideout. So, I decided that I would head to Naboris first and count on you showing up in time."
"Which is why you waited to engage Thunderblight," the Rito Champion countered.
"That was foolish of me," Urbosa replied calmly. She sighed as she leaned back against the headboard behind her. "I let myself get carried away."
"Yeah, but we all have," Daruk grunted. "You already know what I'm going to say about it."
"Yes." Urbosa returned her attention to Revali, "and you?"
"What would have happened if we hadn't made it in time?" The Rito Champion asked. "What about Zelda? I know you two were close."
It wasn't clear whether or not Revali had meant for the question to sting, but it didn't matter. Urbosa had lived with the knowledge that she would one day die for years. No matter how careful she was, there would come a day when she would pass on to the next life, leaving her little bird behind for a time. While she wasn't fond of the knowledge, she had made her peace with it.
Besides, the Princess had lasted for years without any of them at her side. She could do it again if need be.
"She would move on with her life, just as you all would," the Gerudo Champion answered softly. "This fight is greater than any one of us, and it would have continued even if we had all died."
"You've got a point," Daruk grumbled. "Yunobo woulda taken some time, but I know that he would have taken my place if I hadn't made it."
"Yunobo, Riju, Sidon, Teba… they all would have taken our place if necessary."
"That doesn't mean you can just go and get yourself killed!" Revali snapped.
"No…" she answered quietly, "but that won't stop me from playing my role."
An uncertain silence bloomed as the Goron and Rito exchanged a glance, sharing their concern before deciding to address her again.
"Are ya okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Ya sure? Yer actin' a bit odd."
"I had a strange dream." She had no intention of sharing what had just occurred between her and Hylia, as she had yet to come to terms with how she felt about what she had witnessed. She could only claim to understand only the smallest kernel of the plan the Goddess had revealed to her. And, of that kernel, she still wasn't sure how she felt about it.
Hylia had been right when She had stated that the Gerudo Champion had hated Her for a time. It was undeniable that Urbosa had blamed the Goddess for the suffering that she and her loved ones had endured throughout their lives. Now, though, she wasn't sure how she felt on the matter. Knowing that her prayers had been answered made everything so much more confusing, especially since the answers had not come in the forms that she would have liked. At the same time, she could have refused them at any point and still could if she so chose.
She leaned back, resting her head against the headboard. Perhaps it would be possible to accept it all, though she did wonder how many years it would take before she would be able to do so.
A muffled "she's in here!" sounded through the door before it shot open as Medli dashed in. The Rito girl was followed by an impatient looking Gerudo, as well as Link and Mipha.
The Champions' guest gave them no time to even greet her as she found Urbosa and closed the distance to her bedside in the blink of an eye.
"A letter from Lady Riju," the woman said curtly, not even bothering to introduce herself.
Urbosa took the letter silently, giving the woman a gracious nod before turning the letter over in her hands.
Without another word, the Gerudo left as quickly as she had entered.
"Is it normal for the Gerudo to address their chieftains in that way?" Revali asked, the derision in his face just as evident in his voice as his face.
"I'm no longer their chieftain," Urbosa answered calmly. "I'm really no better than a stranger to them now." The statement stung quite a bit, as she had always been proud of her heritage and felt a strong bond with her sisters. Even so, all of her friends were gone, and what family she did have were far enough removed as to have only passing knowledge of her. It was truly amazing that Riju had been able to recognize her at all.
"You're still a Champion."
"None of them know that."
She could feel Revali's dissatisfaction with her answer; however, she paid him no mind. Breaking the seal, the Gerudo Champion unfolded the letter and scanned the contents quickly. Once finished, she folded the paper back up and leaned back against the headboard behind her, tilting her head back and closing her eyes to think.
"What's it say?" The Goron Champion asked?
"Lady Riju has left the city to join Impa in the field outside of Hyrule Castle and apologizes for not being here to congratulate us on our victory in person. She has also seen fit to arrange a feast in honor of our achievements."
It was an honor to have the chief of the Gerudo arrange a celebration for them, even if she would not be there to personally host them. What was more, Riju was lifting the ban on men for the duration of the feast so that Link and Revali would be able to attend. It would be a grave insult to be absent; however, she wasn't sure that it would be a good use of their time. Their allies were gathering to help them take Hyrule Castle and Zelda was running out of time.
Urbosa had to admit that there likely was enough time for them to spend one more night within the desert; however, she was more comfortable with leaving as soon as possible.
"It's about time somebody acknowledged everything we've done," Revali grumbled.
Apparently, not everyone agreed with her unvoiced sentiments.
"There was a feast in Zora's Domain," Link pointed out quietly.
"You know what I mean."
"I'm not sure we should -" Urbosa started.
"We will be attending," Mipha firmly interjected over the older woman. "I know that time must be running out, but you are still recovering. We will not lose you in the end because you were too proud to give yourself time to heal."
"She's got a point," Daruk said.
The Gerudo Champion could feel the corner of her mouth twitching as she met the no-nonsense gaze of the Zora Champion. If they were all going to insist that they take more time for her sake, then she would at least have fun with it. It would keep her spirits up which would help her keep theirs up.
"But what about Link and Revali?" Medli was the one to ask the question that Urbosa had been waiting for. "I know that Gorons aren't forbidden from entering the city, but the men from other races are."
"Oh, don't worry," Urbosa replied with a small smile. "I have an idea on how to get them in," she explained, conveniently forgetting to mention that men would be allowed into the city for the brief period of time. She firmly believed that would be the most fun she'd had, and would have, for quite some time.
"We're never speaking of this again."
Link could only sigh. He had lost track of how many times Revali had hissed those words to him throughout the day.
While he wasn't overly fond of the solution Urbosa had proposed, it wasn't quite as bad Revali was making it out to be. Although, he did agree that not informing them that the ban on men had been lifted while they had an opportunity to change was a bit too far. At least she had helped arrange their seating so that Link and Revali would be able to speak in hushed tones, though Daruk likely had gotten involved in that.
Still, there wasn't much point in continuing to be upset over it. Sure, the Gerudo Champion would never let either of them live it down, but that was nothing new. If it wasn't the fact that he and the Rito Champion were wearing women's clothing, then it would be something else. Really, there was only one thing that truly bothered him and that was the fact that Mipha could barely look at him.
He couldn't entirely blame her for that, as he wasn't sure he'd react any differently in her situation. Even so, he couldn't deny that it stung a little bit that his fiance chose to pick at her food rather than look at him during his attempt to start a conversation.
Of course, Revali had it just as bad as he did. Medli, the only person that Link knew for certain that Revali had formed a bond with, could barely look at the Rito Champion without devolving into a stammering mess. It might have been amusing had Link not known that Medli's opinion was important to him.
"I'm sorry."
Link's attention was pulled away from the two Ritos by Mipha's words.
"I know that I have been rather… short with you today," she explained as she pushed a bit of food around on her plate, "and that's not fair to you." She took a deep breath, releasing it slowly before finally looking at him. "None of this is your fault, so I should not treat you so coldly for it."
"It's okay." As soon as the first syllable left his lips, he'd already seen that she knew what he was going to say and she disagreed.
"No it is not," she replied with a light shake of her head. The Zora Champion looked like she wished to say more but was unsure of how to go about it. "Father always taught Sidon and I to be true to ourselves while also behaving properly. So, I… am not sure how to handle all of this," she finished.
Despite the situation, Link did find it mildly amusing that she had to dance around his state of dress verbally. Apparently, she was even more uncomfortable about the whole affair than he was.
"I understand," Link replied, quickly closing his mouth as one of their hostesses walked by, carrying a couple trays of food. It was mildly frustrating that he had to continually silence himself every time someone outside of the small group drew close. He and Revali wouldn't be kicked out if they were outed as men; however, it would certainly raise several uncomfortable questions, and he wasn't sure Mipha could handle the stress.
"We're going to get her back," Revali stated once the woman had passed.
"No arrows." Link wasn't sure how many times he'd had to say that. He was already annoyed that he and Mipha had been cut short just when she was opening up again. As a result, having to repeat himself again irked him more than normal.
"It's not like I'll turn her into -"
Mipha leaned forward, frowning austerely at the Rito Champion from the other side of Link. "No arrows."
"Fine!"
Link, Mipha, and Revali froze as everyone around the table turned to look at them. The Hylian Champion was not at all surprised that it was one of the Rito that had put them at risk of being discovered. With Revali fuming and Medli barely able to look at either of them without being reduced to a meltdown, it was a wonder they had made it this far. Mipha certainly hadn't been herself but nobody native to the city would have known as she continued carrying herself with a certain grace, not doing anything to attract attention.
Somehow, the Hylian Champion found himself fighting the urge to laugh as Daruk sat at the end of the table, making desperate motions that Link couldn't possibly interpret. Beside him, Urbosa had leaned forward, grinning at him and Revali with barely contained mirth. Revali must have seen her as well as Link noticed his shoulders tensing up as they always did when he grew angry. The Rito Champion's anger was short lived though, as the Gerudo who led the city in Riju's absence set her hands on the table, catching everyone's attention except Urbosa's. The dignitary leaned forward, staring Revali down with one of the hardest looks Link had ever seen.
The table that the Champions sat at seemed to occupy its own world, with the sounds of continued festivities coming from father away than Link remembered.
Tension continued building as the dignitary's eyes narrowed considerably.
Apparently, she and everyone else had heard how deep Revali's voice was, even over their own individual conversations. There was very little chance that they would be able to adequately explain their way out of the situation.
"You have a rather deep voice for a Rito vai."
Link released the breath he had been holding slowly, the veil he wore not moving in the slightest. Whether or not they were discovered, there was no point in getting worked up about it. The worst he could imagine happening was a few sideways glances. Nothing more severe would happen tonight, especially considering the role that he and Revali had played in reclaiming the Divine Beast.
The woman chuckled as she leaned back into her seat, allowing everyone except Revali to relax with a few nervous laughs. "Don't misunderstand, Rito vai have beautiful voices but it is refreshing to hear one that has some strength behind it."
Link and Revali exchanged a glance, both wondering how it could possibly be that easy.
"Of course, it might be even more refreshing if you were both actually vai."
"B-both?" Medli asked, sounding remarkably faint.
"I'm referring to him," the woman answered with an offhanded gesture to Link. "I'm not sure who you thought you would be fooling," she stated with a shake of her head. "Seeing as we rarely bear sons of our own, we study men and the art of attracting them from a young age."
Link resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Revali fumed next to him.
"So, Masters Link and Revali, while this has been incredibly entertaining, I think we would all appreciate it if you were to change into more suitable attire."
"We can't just go change right now!" Revali shot back as he glared daggers at the woman.
"And why is that? If you're worried about who might notice, recall that I haven't introduced any of you as the heroes of our city and most are too concerned with food and drink to pay attention. I can also assure you that no one at this table will breathe a word of this to anyone."
The Rito Champion appeared to have the urge to flip the table they were currently sitting at. Thankfully, he took a deep breath, exhaling dramatically before muttering a short "fine."
"Good," the woman replied with a sharp snap of the fingers, summoning one of the nearby servants. "Itole here will show you to a room in which you can get changed. I would be quick about it, as we will be addressing the people soon."
Thankfully, the Rito Champion said nothing more as he and Link got to their feet and followed after the woman. In fact, Revali didn't even grumble in the slightest as they were led into the palace, leading the Hylian Champion to believe that he was in the midst of plotting his revenge. He was halfway tempted to turn to the archer and remind him that there would be no arrows, but thought better of it and maintained his silence as they made their way into the palace.
"Thanks again!"
"It was no -" Revali paused, rather discontent with the wording he had chosen. "… You're welcome."
Medli was quite excited as the group made their way through a city littered with trash, tattered decorations and tents, large numbers of women who'd had too much to drink, and other leftovers of a large celebration. After the little fiasco that had been their meal, followed by a brief speech acknowledging the Champions and their efforts, she and Revali had spent several hours wandering the streets. Even though she had already seen a sizable portion of what the city had to offer, she still found herself intently perusing the wares that many artisans had on display. What was more, various booths containing short games or challenges had been erected, all featuring prizes for victorious participants. While most of the prizes had interested her to some degree, one in particular had caught her attention.
Since coming to the Gerudo Desert, Medli had found that sand seals weren't nearly as cute as she had imagined them to be. It was kind of strange to her, seeing as they were even pudgier than newly hatched Rito children; which was their cutest quality in her opinion. Perhaps it was the color or maybe it was the combination of physical traits that put her off, or maybe it was the smell. Whatever it was, Medli was not fond of them at all, including the small stuffed animals that were being handed out as prizes for winning games.
However, the Rito girl found one stuffed sand-seal in particular that was one of the most adorable things she had ever seen. Unlike most others, it was small and disproportionately so, with a very short tail and rather large head. It's eyes were large and jovial and they hung just above the smallest smile she had ever seen. What was better, the normal ugly brown had been replaced by a deep, soothing blue.
Of course, she had tried to win it; however, she was nowhere near skilled enough with darts to win and Revali and Link had been competing in a contest of strength. So, she had given up and moved on with Mipha to watch Link and Revali finish up their contest. With neither the Rito or Hylian Champions able to beat the other, they had accepted the draw and the group had moved on, leaving the small sand seal behind.
After a few minutes of the four wandering around, Mipha had pulled Revali aside, leaving her and Link to chat quietly. The Zora Champion had returned alone, stating that the Rito Champion had remembered something that he needed to deal with.
Medli hadn't thought much of it at the time, but a short while later, Revali had returned with the small stuffed animal in hand. Of course, she had nearly caused him to drop it when she had flung her wings around him. It wasn't so much the sand-seal in particular that had meant a lot to her, but rather that someone who wasn't her brother had taken time to do something like that for her.
"And thank you as well."
Mipha gave a light shake of her head. "Revali did all of the work for it. All I did was mention it to him."
Over the time they had spent traveling together, Medli had learned that paying attention to Revali when he thought no one was looking was required. The Rito girl was ashamed to admit that she didn't pay nearly as much attention as she should but there were moments where she remembered. Listening to Mipha say that Revali had done all the work was one moment where she had remembered to keep an eye trained on the Rito Champion. For some reason, Mipha's admission that she had only informed Revali made him shift uncomfortably.
Rather than thanking him again, Medli favored him with another smile.
The Rito Champion opened his beak to say something, but was interrupted by Link before he had a chance to speak. "Urbosa's waiting for us."
The Gerudo Champion was lounging against the wall of the inn with folded arms. Though Medli couldn't see her very well, she could feel the deep green eyes trained on them.
"Good. Now I can -"
"No arrows!" Link and Mipha nearly snapped in unison.
Medli halted, her eyes flicking between the three Champions at her side. The Rito girl couldn't help but giggle as she watched them. Sometimes the way they behaved reminded her of her nieces and their antics.
Her quiet laughter broke the tension in the group as Mipha joined her. Of course, neither Link nor Revali came close to laughing but they both cracked a smile as they finally arrived at the inn. At some point, as they had been enjoying the last bit of their evening in the city, Urbosa had disappeared from view.
As they entered the inn, they were greeted by the woman who had been sitting at the desk earlier that day.
"You are the Lady Mipha, correct?"
"I am," the Zora Champion answered naturally. Medli wondered what it would be like to be greeted like that. No one outside of the Rito Village knew who she was, save for her current company and none of the people she had left behind had thought enough of her to even greet her like one of their own.
"If you and your friends will follow me." The Gerudo turned sharply toward the stairs.
"Follow you where?" Revali asked skeptically.
"To the roof," the woman answered curtly, not even bothering to stop and address them.
The group exchanged a brief glance before climbing up the stairs after her. Though she wanted to ask Revali or Mipha if they had any idea what was going on, if only to ease the tension she was feeling about the whole thing.
"Just take a deep breath." From beside her, Mipha wore a warm, calming smile. "At worst, this will simply be another of Urbosa's pranks."
Medli was rather surprised to find Mipha paying her any mind whatsoever. The Zora Champion wasn't rude by any stretch of the imagination but she was often preoccupied and was rather short-tempered from what the Rito girl had experienced. Of course, she had been noticeably different since Link and Revali had returned from the Yiga clan hideout.
"I suppose that isn't the worst that could happen."
"It is not. I cannot say that I find many of her pranks humorous but we have survived them all and some are even funny after some time has passed."
"Do you think she'd try to pull another one over us after…"
"Yes," Revali replied caustically over his shoulder. "She's insufferable."
"I doubt it," Mipha replied, ignoring the Rito Champion's remark. "She usually stops just before she goes too far."
"'Just before she goes too far?'" Revali asked incredulously. "I haven't seen one that hasn't gone too far!"
"Quiet!" their hostess hissed over her shoulder, causing Medli to flinch. "Other guests are sleeping."
"My apologies," Mipha replied gracefully, somehow keeping her poise as they reached the top of the stairs.
She had been traveling with Mipha for weeks and had seen the Zora Champion crack several times under various types of pressure. Now though, she was more in control than Medli had ever seen her.
What had changed?
Medli didn't have time to think on the matter any further as they reached the top of the stairs and were ushered through a door onto the roof of the inn.
"We have a small patio here for guests of the inn. Typically, it is open to all who have paid for a room; however, your friends reserved it -"
The Rito girl was no longer listening as she took in the sight before her. In the center of the roof was a round pool of water surrounded by cushioned seats on which they could recline. Various tables had been spread around, with two of them holding plates of food and candles and only two chairs a piece. Between the two rounded tables was a square one with a single pouch atop it and four chairs spread around it.
The sound of the door closing jolted Medli out of her stupor.
"What is she playing at now?" Revali grumbled as Link made a beeline toward the table that had various seafoods stacked on top.
"Maybe she is up to something," Mipha mused. "But, I still think we should relax and enjoy ourselves. Who knows when we will have another opportunity to do so."
Medli's shock and awe slowly dissipated as Mipha left them to join Link. The Zora Champion spoke with him for a moment, causing the blonde glutton to halt momentarily as she held his attention. After a brief nod, he grabbed as many plates as he could and followed her to the pool, setting his snacks on the ledge as he joined her in the waters.
"I hadn't even thought about that," Medli almost whispered as she looked to the Rito Champion, who stood beside her, looking almost lost. "You guys are almost nearing the end of your fight."
Revali said nothing for the longest moment. "Things have been so crazy lately that I haven't even had time to think about it."
"What happens when it's done?"
"I… I don't know."
That answer filled her with a quiet dread. Though traveling with her new friends had been filled with a number of harrowing moments, some of which she had wondered if she would live through, Medli wouldn't have traded that time for anything. To think that their time together was nearing its end, regardless of whether they were victorious or not, was an incredibly depressing thought.
Of course, the Rito girl missed her brother, sister in-law, and her nieces, and she did want to settle down some day; however, she still wasn't eager to return. Her only fond memories of home were of her family but, despite their constant presence, there had always been something missing. She had started to realize that something, whatever it was, while traveling with the ragtag group of heroes. It gave her hope that she might one day find fulfillment rather than letting each day pass by in the typical, mundane fashion.
She couldn't imagine a scenario in which her friends didn't win the final battle. After the dust settled, they would likely all go their separate ways, returning to their various homes to help rebuild. Of course, this meant that Revali would be returning to the Rito Village with her; however, based on the histories she'd read, he would likely be dragged into the other races issues as well. Rito heroes, alongside Hylians of similar stature, often were forced into diplomatic or mercenary-like roles after the conflicts that had made them were finished. She understood why, as there were always battles to fight after the fact, and rebuilding of infrastructure and relationships. Still, very few legends had ever had the opportunity to settle down and get the rest they had earned.
So, even if Revali did return to the Village with her, it would likely only be for a couple of weeks at most before he was called away to serve once again. And then, life would truly return to what it had been before.
She really didn't want to think about that.
As though he could hear her silent discontent, Revali finally spoke. "I think Mipha's right. Let's relax for a little bit."
Medli couldn't help but giggle as the Rito Champion almost grimaced as he forced the word "relax" out of his beak. "You really don't like to take it easy, do you?"
"No."
She held up the small sand-seal he had won for her, eyeing it as it occurred to her that all the hard work he had put in had allowed him to win it. "Thank you…"
"For what?" She could see in his eyes that he understood that it wasn't simply an expression of gratitude for the sand-seal.
"Working so hard."
The Rito girl had spent years learning various languages, many of which had been dead for centuries yet even she couldn't translate the emotions that crossed his face.
After a few seconds, he turned away sharply, trying to hide his attempts to dry his eyes. "Come on," he said, sounding a bit gruffer than usual, "I won't let those two have all the fun."
Revali's movements were a bit jerky as he walked toward Link and Mipha, leaving Medli to wonder about the reaction before moving to join him.
Had anyone ever thanked him for trying so hard?
Despite only getting a few hours of sleep, Link felt incredibly well-rested. Maybe it was because he'd spent the last few nights in an inn rather than in the wild, or perhaps it had something to do with finally having reclaimed all the Divine Beasts. Maybe it was because Mipha was learning to smile again. More than likely, it was a combination of all those things.
He certainly wasn't about to complain. If what the Great Deku tree had said about both his heart and body needing to be ready for whatever test was waiting for him, then he would need to be as close to his best as physically possible.
The Hylian Champion looked up as Revali entered the inn's lobby, his talons scraping lightly across the stone floors.
Link nodded a greeting, which was returned just as silently.
"Where's everyone else?"
"Daruk and Urbosa are waiting out front. Haven't seen Mipha or Medli," Link answered. Normally, he'd have been waiting out front with the two older Champions; however, considering how he had recently accepted Mipha's proposal, he figured it was best to wait for her. Whether or not waiting on the ground floor for her was the proper thing to do was lost on him but it seemed right to him, so he did.
"I'm surprised you aren't still sleeping as well."
Link looked to his companion with a raised brow.
"What?" the Rito Champion asked defensively as he folded his wings. "It's been a rough few days."
Revali definitely had a point, though he likely didn't know about all of the healing sessions that Mipha had pulled him aside for. Though she was still recovering her power, the Zora Champion had compensated with shorter, more frequent sessions. Not only that, but he was under the impression that she had been steadily regaining her former power little by little. It was incremental, but it helped to further ease his concern for her as he had come to suspect that her powers were linked to her emotional health. Regaining her ability meant that she was getting better.
"How is she?"
"Better."
"Good."
It was still a surprise to Link when Revali expressed concern, no matter how small, for him or anyone else in the group. He had always come across as too arrogant and self-absorbed to really care about anyone else. Though those qualities were still there, they were now tempered with others that made him more pleasant to be around. Maybe one day, Link would even find himself considering the Rito Champion to be a close friend as well as an ally.
"Medli?"
"…"
Link said nothing, knowing all too well that sometimes patience was needed.
"She's okay."
The Hylian Champion pried no further. He and Mipha had both noticed that the two Ritos had been having a few small, heavy conversations the night before. It was clear that both of them were struggling with their own battles and may not be ready to share them with anyone else. It was something he was very familiar with.
"I'm glad."
For some reason, Link felt as though the archer had more he wished to say; however, Revali remained quiet. The Hylian Champion wasn't sure how he himself felt about the awkward silence. He had no interest in making small talk or polite conversation but he was often unsure of how to have deeper discussions with those around him.
Thankfully, he was saved by the sound of steps descending down the stairs.
"Sorry!"
Mipha sent Link a small, amused smile as she and Medli finally appeared at the bottom of the steps, which he returned with the barest twitch in the corner of his mouth. Medli was not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination, and waking her up before she was ready to rise resulted in increased clumsiness, lack of focus, and not a few incoherent ramblings. While it had made her first days difficult, eventually they had found a system to help her adapt. A system which involved Revali packing up her personal effects as he did his. That allowed the Rito girl to wake up at her pace without hindering the group too much. What they did lose in speed was made up for in how her half-formed thoughts and sleep induced haze made them laugh and raised their spirits.
"It's fine," Revali replied dismissively. "We all needed the rest."
"I know, but we're heading back to the Great Hyrule Forest, right? That's all the way across the Kingdom so -"
Link pulled out the amulet that the Great Deku Tree had given him, holding it up for her to see. Before he could explain what it was to her, the Rito girl's eyes nearly leaped out of their sockets.
"Is that a travel medallion?! That could take us there in a few seconds!"
He should have guessed that she would know what it was and what purpose it served.
Medli's apologies and concerns for sleeping in were immediately forgotten as she rushed toward Link, trying to view the object from every angle. Link remained expressionless as his gaze returned to Mipha, who was hiding her mouth behind a single hand. That didn't keep him from seeing the sparkle in her eyes though.
Knowing it was unlikely that Medli would stop trying to analyze the medallion anytime soon, Link handed it over to her, much to her surprise. The shock of being handed such an important item so casually caused her to nearly drop it. Thankfully, she managed to retain her grip on it.
The Hylian Champion then nodded to Revali, prompting the Rito Champion to set a wing on her back and guide her to the entrance of the inn.
Link didn't watch, instead joining his most treasured companion.
"That was very kind of you," Mipha said warmly as he sidled up next to her.
He smiled silently as they followed Revali and Medli, the latter of which had finally managed to tear her eyes away from the medallion enough to make it through the doorway.
"I was about ta go in and look for ya all." Even though he knew he had no chance of fitting in the confined spaces of the hotel, Link believed that Daruk still would have tried if he had to. "Did ya get some rest?"
Everyone affirmed that they had, except for Medli, who was once again entranced by the object she held.
"Good! So we're ready to head to the forest?"
Link tuned out the rest of the conversation as he noticed Urbosa. The woman stood still as a statue, facing toward the gate with narrowed eyes and folded arms. It was almost unnerving to him to see her so silent and determined. At the same time, her silent resolve served as a reminder that the battle was not yet won. Leaving Mipha's side, he silently came to rest beside her, staring toward the gate as well.
The seconds passed by as neither said a word, both content to keep their sights on the last leg of their journey. Eventually though, he felt the slightest change in the Gerudo Champion. With an unspoken agreement, they turned to each other, sizing each other up without a single expression. Eventually, though, the slightest smile appeared on Urbosa's face.
"I thought I might give being you a try. It's rather unexciting, don't you think?"
Link grinned, knowing that she was trying to lighten the tension just a bit. Even through the chuckles that followed her comment, he could still feel the same resolve burning just below her exterior.
Once again, he was thankful that she was on his side.
"Are ya both ready?" Daruk called out.
"We are," Urbosa responded.
With their final preparations complete, the group made their way through the city. Despite the mood that he had woken up with, his feet became heavier with every step. He had no idea what sort of trial was awaiting him within the Sacred Grove and that only added to the dread that seeped through him. Considering how much care had been taken to hide the blade, despite how difficult it had been to draw it in the first place, he was certain that it would be one of the most difficult challenges he'd ever faced.
Ironically, his heavy feet didn't slow the group down. If anything, it was as though they had sped up, reaching the gate of the city and passing through faster than he would have thought possible.
Before he knew it, they were outside the walls of the city, standing in a circle.
"So, uh… how does that thing work, exactly?" Daruk asked.
"I don't know. None of the accounts I read ever specified how to use them," Medli replied. "Maybe…" the Rito girl trailed off as she knelt, placing it in the center of the circle.
Nothing happened.
"What's supposed to happen?" Revali asked.
"There's supposed to be a bright flash of light and then we're gone."
"We shoulda asked the tree how ta use it."
"It's not surprising that we didn't think to ask," Urbosa replied. "We had a lot on our mind when he gave it to us."
"Yeah, but it woulda been nice ta know how ta use it."
"Perhaps we need to state our destination?" Mipha asked more than suggested.
"But how many destinations have we mentioned since leaving the Sacred Grove?" Revali asked skeptically.
"But Link always-" The Hylian Champion's attention was drawn as a soft golden glow emanated from the center of the circle. "- kept it in the…"
Medli gasped loudly as the small, golden circle glowed brighter, rising off the ground as it did so.
"There is no way it -"
Whatever Revali was about to say was lost as a bright flash overtook all of Link's senses.
The smell was the first thing that hit Link. The musk of earth, mixed with a variety of flowers, fruits, and grass was a welcome change to the arid scents of the desert. Next was a softly illuminated grove, with thin streams of light poking through the canopy of leaves above highlighting all the bright colors of life. The soft breeze gently blowing by him came third. Finally, the Hylian Champion was able to hear the rustling of the various leaves, the sounds of wildlife, and the rest of Revali's sentence.
"- was that easy."
"Apparently, it was," Urbosa responded dryly.
"That was amazing!"
A shudder passed through the forest, deafening everything around them.
"I see that you have returned." The tree's voice was as deep as Link remembered, dominating the grove they stood in.
"Just like ya told us," Daruk replied.
"Just so. Are you ready, Link?"
Link said nothing, staring up at the guardian of the grove.
"Don't worry, Little Guy. We got yer back."
"Unfortunately, this is not a trial that you can aid him in," the Great Deku Tree replied sadly. "What lies within the Trial of the Sword is a challenge that he, and he alone, must face."
Before anymore could be said, Link took a deep breath, quieting his nerves as best he could as he took one step forward, then another. He continued on, one step at a time until he stood before the pedestal from which he had drawn the blade.
"Are you certain you are prepared for what lies ahead?"
Link paused a moment, thinking his answer over carefully. He was tempted to lie and nod his head as he didn't want to be turned away. At the same time, there was no sense in being foolish.
"I see that you are cautious about what lies ahead… that is good."
Link tilted his head in curiosity.
"In truth, there is very little that one can do to prepare for the Trial of the Sword. For it, you must have strength of both body and heart or you will fail and the blade will end your life."
Link closed his eyes, searching himself as he considered what little the Deku Tree had said.
He knew that he was far stronger than he had been when he'd first come to the grove, but with so little to go off of, he didn't know if it was enough. As for strength of heart, he didn't have the beginning of an idea what that truly meant. He still wasn't sure what it meant to be himself, let alone how to be strong while also being himself.
Regardless, his friends and family didn't have time for him to be indecisive. Whatever came his way, whatever the trial might contain, he would simply have to overcome.
He opened his eyes, giving the tree a firm nod.
"If you feel that you have enough resolve to face the challenge ahead, then draw the blade and place it in the pedestal."
Slowly, Link reached up, gripping the hilt of the Master Sword as he drew it. Taking the deep purple hilt in both hands, he set the blade within the pedestal before driving it home with all of his strength.
Just like the travel medallion, all of Link's senses were taken over by a bright flash of light as he felt himself being pulled away.
When the light died away, he found himself in a dim, dank cavern. Much like the Shrine of Resurrection and the rune shrines, the walls of the cavern were slick, black, and covered with glowing blue symbols of the ancient Sheikah. Aside from that, there was nothing else of note within the room; however, Link's grip on the sword in his hand didn't loosen. He scanned the room carefully as he reached for his shield. Unseen eyes were watching his every move, and the Hylian Champion couldn't shake the feeling that they were not friendly.
"To the hero who would wield the true power of the Master Sword, in the days of old, the chosen hero would undergo a trial to prove his worth."
The voice of a Sheikah Monk wasn't enough to distract Link. He felt movement just outside his field of view. Spinning around, he thought he caught sight of a shadow darting just outside his field of view.
"In the name of the Goddess, Hylia, I offer you this trial:"
Acting on pure instinct, Link dove forward, pulling his shoulder inward and turning it into a roll as the song of a swinging blade sounded above him. Coming to his feet, he spun around, holding his armaments at the ready; however, he nearly dropped them.
Staring at him, with a pitch black face and blood-red eyes, was himself.
"Defeat the darkness within your heart."