I don't own The Legend of Zelda. Maybe copies of the games, but not the franchise.
What I do own, is a CAN OF WHOOPASS GOING TO SOLICITING JERKS WHO THINK "OH HEY, I'M GOING TO SPAM REVIEWS COMMISSIONING COMICS" WHEN
1. I'm an artist myself, I don't NEED you jerks copy/paste your dumb 'offers' like you think you're the best thing in the world and think I have money to burn - I DON'T.
2. You think its a good idea to spam these dumb things. No one is answering you, we all know your tricks.
If you leave commission reviews, EFF OFF
That means you:LydiaCrazzy,Golden-Girl-lovers - GO AWAY!
It was a cold night, perfect for a nicely stoked flame. Rabia Plain was quiet, it had been hours since he completed the close by Mezza Lo Shrine. Kass, the Rito minstrel was gone, likely off to find more meaning in the ancient songs he had been searching for. Link, the light of Hyrule's future was alone, at least, so it seemed...
"Making a camp in the middle of the wild, for your sake but more importantly for Zelda's sake, I hope no monsters consider you an easy meal. We put all our hopes in you now, it would be asinine for you to simply bite the dust out here."
Link looked up as he noticed the glowing blue apparition of another Rito, but this one was more familiar to him, at least he believed. Younger, more sleek than the bard he had talked to hours before.
The apparition folded his wings, "It's not as if Kakariko isn't too far from here."
"Hey Revali." Link merely spoke. It wasn't as if he couldn't, at least he felt he didn't need to, but if he said nothing, then Revali would likely get more agitated since the Hylian's voice was always deadpan.
"Hey?" Revali sighs. It was more he had gotten out of Link than he did a century ago, not that he felt happy that the blonde hylian was suddenly speaking to him. Perhaps Link losing his memories was a blessing in disguise.
Revali sits close to the fire. Not that he needed to, as a ghost the fire offered him no warmth, even the grass flowed through his spirit as though he wasn't there. The only thing that made him feel like he was, was the company he was keeping who could see him, since Vah Medoh was the first of the Divine Beasts that Link had freed.
But it was that thought there that perplexed Revali, why him? Why travel all the way to the Tabantha region of Hebra, to Lake Totori, to Rito Village? He was sure Link would rescue him last, if at all. Perhaps something jogged his memory, that Link needed his amazing Revali's Gale to vanquish Ganon and...
Perhaps Revali had his head in the clouds, not that he could. His spirit was tied to two places: Vah Medoh and Link himself. The only way he could could feel the wind beneath his wings is if Link was in the air, and it wasn't as if he could feel it anyway. If anything he was back at square one. Why DID Link free him?
A century ago, Daruk of the Gorons considered Link a sworn brother, whatever that meant. Urbosa of the Gerudo, although she favored Zelda more due to her close friendship with the Princess's mother, didn't treat Link harshly. Then there was Mipha of the Zora, she absolutely loved Link, even Revali could tell.
But he, Revali wasn't a close friend. If anything Revali learned during his time from when Link arrived on Vah Medoh and brought his awareness out of the constant pain he was in, there was no reason for Link to be there. He was antagonistic to Link, if anything, he was jealous. However Link still saved him. Too little too late, but it wasn't as if Link was able to immediately get to Vah Medoh to stop Windblight alongside him, so he had to make due with his spirit being freed at least.
"So... Are you going to tell me?" Revali spoke up, his eyes looking at Link as the Hylian stokes the flames a bit.
...
Nothing, typical. The more things change the more they stay the same.
It wasn't until he heard some wooden jingling that Revali learned what Link was doing.
Koroks.
Suddenly they were not alone, as a whole group of Koroks approached from the shadows, surrounding Link and comforting him in their own little way.
Revali was young. Although not a hatchling, he could clearly see the children of the forest, it wasn't just because he was a spirit himself. The giggling of Link and the wood fairies, theirs vibrant and childlike and his deadpan and bored though amused, was starting to get annoying to Revali though, as his question was so rudely ignored.
"HEY! I asked you a question!" Revali yelled out, his feathers ruffled as he had to raise his voice.
"I heard. But you weren't specific. Tell you what?" Link solemnly said as he patted the Korok's head.
Revali groaned, he hoped that Link would get a splinter. "Why did you save me? Save Vah Medoh? Hebra is on the other side of Hyrule, your talk with Impa this morning tells me you went there first after awakening, yet Zora's Domain is less than a few days from Kakariko, WHY go all the way to save ME? Someone who..."
"Nevermind..." Revali turned away, his passionate complaint withered to a melancholic dismissal.
"I remembered something." Link simply stated.
Revali perked up, his head turning back to Link, who was looking at his worn out Knight's Bow.
"It's true. Zora's Domain is closer to Kakariko. But before I would go to the Divine Beasts, Impa suggested I go to Hateno to see Purah, to get my Sheikah Slate properly repaired. It was there... I was finally Home..." Despite Link's blunt speech, his eyes seemed lit up with fondness.
"Home?" Revali raised an eyebrow. Wasn't Link some pompous knight? He was some brat who lived a life of luxury in Hyrule Castle Town, right? Why would he consider Hateno of all places, home?
Sure, Hyrule regularly pulled their knights from all over the kingdom. Deya Village, Tabantha Village, Mabe Village, Suthorn, Goponga, so many others. But Hateno? It was the sticks, the boonies. How could someone who was named Champion, Zelda's personal knight, the man who was destined to defeat Calamity Ganon, who once held the Sword that Seals the Darkness, come from there?
"You mean Hateno is your home? Then that makes my question even more concerning. If I remember properly, Hateno is completely on the other side of the kingdom from Rito Village. Are you telling me that after visiting Hateno, you went all the way to Hebra to take back Vah Medoh? WHY?"
"Because of you."
Revali was taken a back by Link's words. Was he serious? He purposely went out of his way to go all the way from Hateno to Rito Village just for him? He chuckles, perhaps his he was right after all...
"Of course, you couldn't forget that amazing demonstration of my wonderful skill, so you sought me out knowing I would impart it with you."
"No... That wasn't it." Link said, his solemn voice breaking Revali from his thoughts.
"Then what was the reason? I can't imagine you went there exclusively out of some fondness for me specifically. In case you forgot, Mr. Amnesiac, you and I were never on the best of terms."
He didn't want to say he hated Link. Deep down there was some sense of respect, especially after Link did what even he could not: take down Windblight Ganon, the mass of malice that had consumed Revali for the past century, even doing so at night, where Revali struggled due to the Rito having poor night vision. The fact that Link managed to do that just as the sun was coming up was something Revali would never forget.
"Like I said, I remembered something." Link said casually. "When I left Purah, and gotten my Sheikah Slate upgraded, I noticed a house being torn down. So I bought it. It seemed familiar to me, and then I realized it: it was the house I was born in, it was my family's house. But not only that, I remembered more. My life before I was a knight."
This intrigued Revali, was he mistaken? Was Link not a complete amnesiac? Wait, wait, this doesn't mean anything. Link was still that pompous knight who never gave him the acknowledgment when prompted. Just because he was born in a humble setting meant nothing.
"So? What does that have to do about traveling across the kingdom to free Vah Medoh?"
"Before I became a squire under my father, I traveled with him. We went all over Hyrule, one of the places we went to, was Rito Village."
This got Revali's attention, "So... What? You have some childhood attachment to Rito Village? You? I find that hard to believe. The only way you would have any sort of attachment was if you were Captain Volga's son."
Revali's eyes widened. No... It couldn't be...
"Volga was my father." Link pulled out a Flameblade, old and weathered, the ruby at the end of the hilt that made the blade a vibrant crimson cracked and the inherent magic dispelled.
Volga, named after a legendary dragon from ages past. He was the one yylian that even Revali heard of and admired. One of the trials he completed to earn his status as Champion was to shoot the horn of Dinraal, a trial he chose because it was a feat he had seen the hylian Volga perform in his own youth.
"I'll be plucked... Your father was THAT man? Wait... I... You?"
Revali was snapped out of his stupor when he saw something he thought he'd never see of Link...
A Smile. A warm fond smile that made even Revali feel something despite his lack of a corporeal form.
"You remember now... Don't you, Fletcher?"
Revali hadn't heard that old nickname in a long time.
He humbly chuckled, "I should be calling you that, Fletcher."
The two looked up in the starry sky, reminiscing of a day long past.
It was a spring day, the last of the winter snow was finally melting, and a young Revali, his bright blue downy feathers covered his face. He giggled as he glided through the forest surrounding Lake Totori. His Swallow Bow in his talons as he perfectly shot a Wildberry from its bush.
Revali approached his snack, pulling his arrow off and munching on the bright fuchsia colored fruit. But soon his ears picked up a sound: horses.
He flew, staying close to the ground, and getting his bow ready. If it was a monster, it would be the first proof of his meddle as a Rito Warrior in training.
He peaked from behind the tree, only for his eyes to notice a familiar sight.
A Hylian knight, clad in Crimson armor, with several other soldiers: some other Hylians, a Goron, a Zora, and a few Rito. It couldn't be.
"Captain Volga?!" Revali immediately leaped from his cover to fly towards the Hylian knight.
"Oh? Revali?" Volga was surprised at the young Rito's actions.
"You remember!" Revali was happy to see the Hylian captain remembered him, it had only been a year since Volga's legendary feat, but it ingrained in Revali's mind ever since.
But before Revali could get close, a small blond boy clad in a long green shirt appeared before him, wielding a Traveler's Shield and a small Forest Dweller's Sword. This child, despite being bright eyed, had a defiant stare that challenged Revali's approach.
Revali took no chances, if this kid was to get in his way, then so be it. He drew his Swallow Bow, an arrow aimed at the child.
"ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!" Volga's voice echoed through the clearing.
Both boys stopped, it was clear that before the captain's intervention, both boys were ready to strike, they just had no idea that had they followed through, it was likely neither would've lived past that moment.
"Yes Papa." The boy in green put away his sword and shield and joined the other knights.
"Papa? You mean you're his son?" Revali was both impressed and irate.
Volga got off his horse and took off his helmet, revealing his short blonde hair and blue eyes along with his goatee. Revali could now see the resemblance between father and son.
"Treble..." Volga addressed the Zora knight.
Treble responded, "Yes Captain?"
"Take Raderan to the stable, I want to speak with my son and young Revali alone.
"Yes Captain!" Treble responded, taking the pure black horse with white mane and snout off to the local stable to rest.
Volga approached Revali with his son in tow, "It's great to see you again Revali, are you training hard to become a great warrior?"
Revali scoffed, "I am. And soon, you'll have to take me on as your Squire!"
Volga chuckled, "Oh? Not aiming to be a Rito Warrior but instead a Knight of Hyrule?"
Volga's son scoffed himself, he wanted to be his father's squire. He had already traveled Hyrule with his father since he was four years old. It's been three years since then, he was more than a good enough fighter to be the one his father would choose... Even if his skills with a bow were lacking, and even if the Zora Princess called him reckless.
"Nuh uh! I'm going to be Papa's Squire!"
"What did you say?!"
The two boys were looking to fight again, and Volga just groaned in frustration.
"Both of you, knock it off!" Volga sighed "Listen, you're both still too young, you're only seven years old, both of you! In three years, when you're both ten, then you both can be my squire!"
Both boys shouted. "WHAT?!"
"Nothing said I can't train you both."
Volga pulled out his famed Flameblade out of its scabbard, and put its blade into the ground, between the two boys.
"Now then, you two have to promise to get along. Hands on the grip."
Both boys grabbed the Flameblade's grip.
"Now, you both will be spending the week learning from each other. Revali, if you want to be a knight, you would need to learn how to use a sword and shield. While you, son. You need to brush up on your bow training."
Both boys looked at each other, their eyes gleaming with determination.
"What kind of son of Volga doesn't know how to use a Bow?" Revali smirked.
Volga's son scoffed, "What kind of squire doesn't know how to use a Sword?"
"Normal swords weight too much, we stick with Bows and Spears because they're accurate and light, like we are."
"Boys..." Volga warned.
"Yes sir..." Both boys deflated at the man's warning.
"Now go, teach each other."
Revali and the boy went off.
"Learn well... Link."
Link and Revali went to Warbler's Nest, a clearing where they could both train.
Revali had picked up a Feathered Edge and a Kite Shield from one of the Rito Warriors, although it was smaller for him.
"Okay... Show me what you know with a Bow..." Revali said as he put an apple up on one of the rocks.
"Why do I have to show you? I'm Volga's son." Link pouted.
Revali smirked, "What? You're a Cucco now? You're in my home turf."
Link grumbled as he pulled back the string on his Traveler's Bow, and let the arrow loose. It fell to the ground in a pathetic display.
"Wow... You stink!" Revali shouted as he laughed, Link's face red with embarrassment.
"Then teach me what I did wrong!"
Revali was stunned a bit. This kid had so much bravado before, but he quickly asked for his help.
"Fine fine... Look, you're holding your bow wrong, what you need to do is hold it like I am..."
Revali got his Swallow bow, drew his arrow back, and released - hitting the apple point blank.
"Wow..." Link was amazed. How could someone his age be so good with a bow?
After Revali set up another apple, Link pulled drew his arrow back, and released. He hit the apple just like Revali did.
"Lucky shot, Fletcher." Revali smirked, the pride he felt overtook his competitive nature.
Link looked at him, "My name is Li-"
Revali interrupted Link, "I didn't mean it in a bad way, Fletcher. You have potential, now... Check me out, you'll be amazed with my swordsmanship!" Revali got his Feathered Edge and Kite Shield ready.
Revali swung his sword a few times, the lightweight sword flew through the air with the greatest of ease, if only Revali's stance was actually something that made it effective. He was essentially flailing around.
"No, no... That's not how you use a sword!" Link grumbled as he saw Revali's sloppy swordsmanship.
"Well then? How do you do it?" Revali stopped and looked at Link.
"Like this!" Link pulled out his Forest Dweller's Sword and Traveler's Shield. Getting into position, he went into his default stance, slicing the air with masterful precision. It was clear that Link was a natural swordsman. Even Revali was impressed.
So Revali adopted the stance he had just seen. It was a bit tougher considering he always thought of being light on his feet, now adopting a heavy stance. But he soon got the hang of it.
"You got it!" Link cheered.
Revali smiled, "I did... Wow..." His words were humble, calm. No bravado behind it.
And with that day onward, the two boys would train, incorporating each other's techniques into their own skillsets.
It was night, the final night. Rito Stable had both boys relaxing under the stars on its roof.
"You know what Fletcher?" Revali mused.
Link, who had gotten used to his friend calling him by the nickname, looked towards his friend, "Yeah Revali?"
"Let's meet again in three years, when we're ten years old, at Hyrule Castle. Let's become knights together."
Link smiled, "Yeah, we'll be the strongest knights Hyrule has ever seen and ever will see!"
But that day would never come.
Captain Volga, one of Hyrule's most legendary knights, and the rest of Gaepora Squadron, were slain by a Lynel off of Irch Plain two years after Link and Revali had that one week.
Link had been with his Grandfather Ezlo and his little sister Lana, when the knights had brought home his father's famous Flameblade, the ruby broken and the sword no longer lit with flame. The sword would be buried within the house's foundation.
When Revali heard the news of Captain Volga's death, he was devastated. He was an orphan, so Volga was like the father he never had. He decided at that day forward, he would dedicate his craft entirely to the bow. He would become the greatest archer Hyrule had ever known.
When the two boys, on the cusp of becoming men met again, a decade had passed. Revali's pride in his skills, the skills he worked hard to attain, the skills that were not the result of talent. Link had by that point been Zelda's knight for five years, his silence due to living in the shadow of his father, but now with the burden of being Zelda's knight despite not being from nobility.
Neither one, due to their sorrow over Captain Volga, father and mentor, remembered the week they became the best of friends...
"You know... I hate this. Now that I remember everything, I wish I turned over a new feather. I wished I followed through with our promise, Link." Revali chuckled.
"I wish you were there with me Revali. It would've made my training more interesting if I had my best friend there."
"Heh, if only I remembered earlier. I wouldn't have been such of a jerk to you. I have egg on my face realizing it. After Volga's passing, I grew bitter of other hylians. How could they just let a man like that die? I understand he did it to protect the kingdom, but... I just wished things were different... And now here I am... No different from back then. Shot down."
"But you're here now... The reason I went to Vah Medoh first was to avenge you."
"Yes, but for how long? My spirit isn't at rest yet, and I think the only thing tying me to this world now is my duty to pilot Vah Medoh."
Link and Revali stared at the stars for a brief moment. It was true. Revali was dead, even if he were to somehow survive his encounter with Windblight, its one hundred years since, Rito don't live very long lives. He would've been long dead anyway by the time Link awoke, if fighting Vah Medoh to take her back from Ganon, or by the passage of time. The current Elder Kaneli wasn't even hatched when Revali was becoming an adult, it would be another generation before the wise but forgetful owl would be born to the village, who only knew of Revali likely because his father had probably been one of the kids he impressed.
Perhaps the gods smiled on Revali despite their twisted ideas of fate, his spirit trapped within an embodiment of Malice for a century, and now he was reunited with his best friend, even if he begrudgingly didn't realize it at first.
For now, he was happy. Sure, he died not knowing the guy he antagonized before his death was his best friend. But now he knows, and his spirit can rest knowing that once Ganon is obliterated, he helped his best friend save the kingdom and the princess.
"I promise Link, we'll do it. I'll help you destroy Calamity Ganon. He'll taste my revenge!"
Link smiled as Revali's spirit vanished, leaving him to sleep, and remember happier times.
Happier times. When the boy clad in green and the bird in blue would laugh and train, a broken dream of becoming knights together mended by a destiny to destroy the calamity.
So this was a story that I just popped into my head. Yay Plot Bunnies!
Spent a few hours writing it.
Revali was my favorite champion from Breath of the Wild. I loved that Link essentially had a Falco character.
He's also my second favorite character to use in Age of Calamity, alongside Link and the Battle-Tested Guardian.
Speaking of Hyrule Warriors, you might notice a few nods to the original game. They're in-name only references. Volga here being Link's father and his little sister being named Lana. I know plenty of people like using Linkle or Aryll for Link's sister. And there's even a reference to Minish Cap, as I named Link's grandfather after Ezlo.
We don't know much about Link's Family. There was a sketch about Link having a sister and grandfather in Creating A Champion, but the English version of the book seemingly took it out.
I think any story that gives Link a bit of character is great, especially since the past four Zelda games take the agency out allowing you to name the hero, with BotW, AoC, TotK, and Echoes giving Link his own character. It's easier to see Link as a character than a self insert like he's supposed to be in Zelda games before the Wild era.
Anyway, I wanted to give Revali and Link's relationship some depth. As I usually go Rito - Zora - Goron - Gerudo in my playthroughs of BotW and TotK. And I wanted to give my own ideas for why Link would go out of his way to save Revali aside from "Revali's Gale is broken and I like using it"
I also sort of peppered it with some of my favorite things in the games: Volga having a Flameblade - sadly missing in TotK because Fuse exists. The Knight's Bow being my favorite Bow in the game.
Then there's Volga's horse in this story: Raderan. It was the first name of the horse I used in Breath of the Wild back in 2017. Black with white snout and mane. It's also THE name I typically use for horses in video games. This jumbled mess is pronounced "Ra-Der-Ran" so if anyone ever wonders how to pronounce it, well there it is.
So I hope you all enjoyed this short story. It's a bit longer than I would like, but it was something I wanted to tell. And something to distract me instead of working on my stream assets.