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To say Revali had any regrets before death was a lie, one that he was more than happy to tell himself yet still somewhere deep inside him he knew it was simply a lie to make him feel better. A hundred years trapped inside Vah Medoh with the very thing that tore him apart has felt more like thousands of years with only the memories of what was keeping him somewhat sane.
He had perfected his flight and archery truly becoming the best archer to ever exist yet there was still something missing but he could never figure it out until meeting that idiotic chosen hero for the first time. From the stupidly, perfectly crafted sky blue eyes that seemed to shine in the Sun to the acceptably well groomed golden locks tied back into a ponytail it was a struggle for Revali to not stare for too long. Back then before everything went to shit he mistook it for rivalry, wanting to best Link in everything no matter how small it may be. Once he even challenged Link to see how much weight each could carry and to his surprise - that he dared to never show lest the knight called him out on it - the pathetic excuse of a knight was actually quite strong. Revali was quite sure that the knight would have crumbled under the weight of the large boulder he was carrying but Link’s petite figure - which reminded Revali more of a Hylian female than a male but he decided against asking - but he should have learned by then that the Hylian was always full of surprises.
But that was a hundred years ago.
Now he waits.
And waits.
And waits until he can feel his soul being torn apart from the isolation.
He waits for those sky blue eyes, golden locks and annoyingly perfect figure.
And one day during his waiting he comes to terms with his sole regret. That he didn’t notice sooner. That the rivalry he had with Link was also a lie he had crafted himself. After Goddess knows how many years of wandering the same rooms of the Divine Beast his soul was bound to, he finally came to terms with his true feelings. He had loved Link.
That was the hope he was holding onto, that perhaps one day he’ll get to see Link again.
He could have never been more miserable to have a wish fulfilled.
After a hundred years of waiting a blonde Hylian stepped foot onto Vah Medoh. This Hylian wore the face of the knight from the past but wasn’t him at the same time. The knight was stoic, quiet and never let his guard down; this boy was expressive, energetic and often got jumped by enemies not to say he couldn’t easily dispose of them but it was still too odd for Revali. Though he didn’t hate it. He just hated the fact that he had to die to see it. He would have given anything, even his wings, just to see that smile before Calamity Ganon. He will never admit it but that smile was like the Sun radiating its warmth onto his soul.
But while Link was freeing Vah Medoh that smile wasn’t directed at Revali once. No, when Link saw Revali for the first time after a hundred years all the Rito champion got was a pair of eyes trying so hard to remember the rito in front of them but nothing came to mind. The strings on Revali’s heart - or well his heart should be if he wasn’t dead - started to be tugged violently at the sight of the Hylian. Was it that Link didn’t seem to remember him? Was it that Link was covered in injuries from his fight with Windblight Ganon? Or was it that a few seconds after seeing the rito, Link’s eyes were filled with tears? Most likely the latter, Revali had thought. But as Link cried at the sight of his dead comrade and tore apart Revali’s heart piece by piece, there wasn’t a single thing Revali could do; he was a spirit after all. So he stood there and watched. He was never good with comforting others but when he needed to not a word came out.
Perhaps he was wondering whether to be concerned or amazed. This must have been the first time he saw such a negative emotion be shown on Link’s face; something he thought to be impossible before.
Looking at the Hylian again he sees Link’s scared hands moving.
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you very well but- I don’t understand” Link signs with shaky hands. Just by looking at the boy it was clear to see that thousands of thoughts were going through his mind at once and he couldn’t find a way to express them all so Revali settled for what he was given.
With a sigh and in his usual voice filled with pride he accepts Link’s apology with, “Don’t be sorry it doesn’t suit you, besides we can’t have the Hylia’s chosen hero crying like a child”
“Aren’t you mad that I hardly remember you” Link signs once more.
“Why does it matter? Besides we were rivals, nothing to cry over.”. Another lie, he thinks to himself, “Save your tears for Mipha and Zelda, they're the ones who actually held feelings for you” Revali had to swallow down his jealousy with that last sentence. It’s not that he held any ill feelings towards the Hylian princess currently using every ounce of energy she had containing Ganon in the castle, or the Zora princess who’s currently still trapped in her own Divine Beast close to Zora’s Domain. He simply felt a slight pang of jealousy from the fact that they got to spend more time with the knight than he got to. Besides to him he most definitely loved Link more than either of them could; he was the best at anything he put his mind to so that should also apply to love right? Though if he had mastered that as well then Link would have had memories filled with endearment towards his fellow champion rather than memories of Revali being a prick, he decided to shove these thoughts to the back of his mind they can be developed upon after this teary mess of a hero had left his vicinity.
“You should head to Zora’s Domain to treat those injuries of yours” Revali’s voice was full of indifference - something easier said than done - as he finally decided to acknowledge the amount of cuts that littered Link’s body.
Link just shrugged in response, not caring for the injuries. Even after a hundred years the boy was still careless of his own well-being; if Revali had a corporal body he would have shoved Link onto the closest bed…and treated the injuries with the utmost care. Alas that was impossible in his current state.
They stood there in awkward and depressing silence for a few minutes but a few minutes too long for the knives being shoved into Revali’s heart. Before he could reach his breaking point he decided it was best for both of them if Link just left.
“Well then you should run off to the next Divine Beast to free, don’t forget you still have a duty to fulfill”
It took Link a while to respond but when he did it was a simple nod then he turned on his heel and started to walk away.
“I’m sorry”. This was not how Revali had imagined hearing Link’s voice for the first time; it was the most heart wrenching moment he ever had to experience.
If he was asked as to what happened after Link had left he would have said that he focused his attention helping to finish off Calamity Ganon once and for all. When it comes to hiding his true feelings and saving his image he can be a convincing liar. In actuality whatever fragile string was holding him together broke and he discovered that it’s possible for a spirit to cry. The image of those blue eyes staring straight at him. Pleading. Pleading for an explanation as to why he felt the way he did upon seeing Revali again. It’s not like Revali knew for certain but he could make an educated guess.
It was likely that Link had held feelings for Revali too.
Thinking back it should have been obvious if he wasn’t so focused on trying to be better. The way Link’s eyes shone when he was alone with the rito, the slight upturn of his mouth, the tension in his muscles fading away.
Revali audibly cursed himself for not noticing. One of the very things he prided himself in was his amazing vision and ability to notice subtle changes in his environment. If he had noticed back then would he be burdened with this regret?
If he could have, he would have held Link in a tight embrace and never let him go; to Hell with everything else that’s going on that could have all been dealt with later.
A hundred years left to his own thoughts in the agonizing silence that surrounded the sky above the Hebra mountains, was starting to break through. It’s not like anybody will ever know.
Once he regained his composure he gazed over the land below him and in the distance was the small figure of a boy making his way over to Gerudo Desert. A sword, shield and bow strapped to his back and Sheikah slate at his waist. As if he knew Revali was looking at him, he turned around to look up at Vah Medoh lazily gliding through the sky.
Staring at the Hylian for too long started to tug at Revali’s heart strings once more, the pain he felt a mixture of too many emotions. He would not allow himself to succumb to such pathetic feelings, his pride wouldn’t let him.
Turning away he shoved whatever he felt for Link deep down into the depths of his soul, letting it become a memory of the distant past.