Chapter Text
“Sweet MOTHER of Hylia!”
Heart lurching in his chest, Revali threw his bow onto his back like it had bit him. When did a small Hylian boy get in the way? How did a small Hylian boy get up the fierce mountain to be in his way?
Zelda was not letting him pilot that machine if he blew up a child. Cringing, he raised his wings and let the snowy wind carry him down. Landing with a soft crunch, Revali tentatively approached the mass of crumbled rocks.
The good news? No Moblins to be seen.
The bad news? No children to be seen.
Revali shut his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as he prepared to scrape away Hylian pasta and apologise to the princess.
Shuffling behind the rubble, Revali turned up his nose and-
Wait.
Out of the blue, some ungodly force of nature shoved him beak-first into the rock, yelping and floundering.
Before he could even utter a curse, the monster behind him used its disgustingly impressive strength to fling him over its shoulder and slam him into the snow.
“Wait, wait, wait-!!”
The beast had the nerve to drag him by the talons and toss him so high that his wings realised they’d hit peak altitude for flight.
The swirling snowstorm was blinding for the Rito, especially combined with a dazed pain in his head, but he could focus just enough to see the wretched perpetrator drawing a bow.
Oho, no.
Oh, hell no.
In the blink of an eye, Revali was pelting bomb arrows once more, expecting a satisfying puff of black smoke to show his victory.
And yet, nothing came.
This monster must have inhuman health.
But no matter, Revali thought, it would still be no match for him.
He drew his bow once more, eyes darting across the snowfield and seeing the familiar glimmer of steel.
Steel?? How in Hyrule did a low-class monster acquire a steel shield?
Upon closer scrutiny, Revali’s eyes widened at a familiar emblem.
The crest of the royal family.
Oh, shit.
Was he beating up some knight?
Was some knight beating HIM up?
Pausing for just a moment, it seemed the maybe-knight had matched his energy, refusing to fire back. Floating down to the ground, Revali cleared his throat.
“Show yourself!”
As if on cue, the snow settled in the air, and the fog of the frost faded away to reveal a knight wrapped in several silly fabrics to keep him warm. Piercing sapphire eyes stared him down, full of an emotion Revali couldn’t quite put his wingtip on.
He sneered, putting his hands on his hips. “So you decided to attack me like I was some bokoblin, is that it? Hylia forbid I report this to the Princess.”
The knight looked at him like he was an alien.
“I bet you’ll have a lot more to say in front of the King.” Revali scoffed, eyeing the knight and his small stature. “You’re the runt, I assume? Someone’s run-of-the-mill son drafted in to fight?” he chuckled. “And you wanted to assault a future Champion? I’d say brave if it wasn’t so foolish.”
The knight stood like a statue, before breaking the silence with a scoff.
Oh, it was like that, was it?
Fine.
“Kissed by the electric keese, were you? Shocked the words out of your mouth? Or have you realised the gravity of your silly mistake?” Revali taunted, tilting his head for a response.
The knight, finally, moved his hands and began to fold in his fingers to form….
Shiiiit.
Well now Revali felt like a right asshole.
Biting his tongue, Revali let the knight sign a string of words.
“You’re the one who tried to shoot me first.”
“I was trying to shoot a moblin, and then a small child ran into the flurry and-” Revali stopped himself, raising a brow and staring the knight down. “You’re the child, aren’t you.”
The knight deadpanned.
“Well. My apologies for your mistake.” Revali said, nonchalant. “However, I am curious as to how you survived that blast. And how you managed to attack me like that.” He squinted. “Are you magical? Sheikah?”
The knight moved his hands again in sign language. “I’m just that strong. Although, maybe that’s a foreign concept to you.”
Revali’s feathers bristled. “You? Strong? Don’t make me laugh. What are you anyway, some sort of nepo baby?”
The knight pursed his lips. “I’m pretty important, I’d argue. You, however I can’t say I recognise. Are you out here playing?”
Oh, that did it.
“I am TRAINING, thank you! I am Revali, warrior of the Rito and possible pilot to the great Vah Medoh! If I reply to that letter.” he added, muttering. “The point is, I am going to defeat Calamity Ganon.”
The knight’s ears twitched and a small smile graced his unmoving lips. He raised his hands. “You’re gonna do that how? With that magic sword in the legend?” he asked, a little too smug for Revali’s liking.
“I have no doubt the Master Sword will find me when it needs to. And I will be the one to wield it.” Revali huffed. “Hylia will grace me with the honour of being hers, and Princess Zelda will realise how heroic I am.”
The knight smiled and reached behind him to his sword’s sheath. Revali tensed, not putting it past him to randomly attack again.
With an absolutely shit-eating grin, the knight did the impossible.
He pulled the fucking Master Sword from his back.
Before the blue glow could even illuminate Revali’s shocked face, the knight was ripping off his opposing glove to poke the blade, showing off how he could touch it with his bare hands.
There was no more room for shock in Revali’s body.
Only pure, unbridled rage.
“Are…are you telling me…” he sputtered, pointing a finger at the knight. “Are you telling me you’re-”
The knight waggled his eyebrows, sheathing the sword and raising his hands to sign a singular word:
“Bitch."
In half a second, Revali was slinging arrows through his bow and aiming directly at the knight’s nose.
The knight threw his shield out, bracing himself with a scrunched face ready to be humbled by the Great Revali’s explosive show of dominance.
“Stop!”
Revali froze, turning in sync with the knight to see the Princess and a few more knights on horseback, her familiar white steed nearly invisible against the snowy tundra. The knight dropped to his knee, kneeling like a little prick.
“Your Highness.” Revali greeted, sour as he let his bow fall to his side.
“Why on Earth are you attacking each other!?” Zelda asked, eyes darting from the knight to him.
“Your knight here tried to kill me.”
Zelda furrowed her brows. “Link, is that true?”
Link.
Thank Hylia he had a stupid name.
The knight - rather, Link - looked up and simply shrugged.
Zelda clicked her tongue. “Mistakes can be made.” she said, returning her gaze to Revali. “Both of you seem to have mistaken each other for enemies.”
How did she pick up all of that from a shrug??
“However, do not let this spark a rivalry. We need all of our Champions to be allies.” Zelda scolded, watching them both like a disappointed mother.
“Ah, speaking of.” Revali stepped forward, “Is…Link here really trustworthy? He had played a trick on me, with some sort of magic, holding a fake sword of legend and-”
“Link is, in fact, holding the Master Sword, Revali.” Zelda sighed gently. “He is Hylia’s Hero and my personal knight. You’ll do well to respect him. He is an incredible fighter.”
Link turned, eyes wide like a deer's.
What a dickhead.
Revali fought the familiar sting of jealousy rise in his chest and nodded. “My apologies, Your Highness.” he cooed, eyes staring daggers at Link’s. “I hadn’t realised.”
One of the knights beside Zelda tugged a lead behind him, leading a spotted white and brown horse forward. Link perked up, standing to go by its side and rubbing its nose affectionately.
Disgusting. He had a pet.
Stopping himself from watching Link and praying for a trip or fall, Revali cleared his throat. “About your offer then, Princess,” he began.
Zelda’s eyes lit up as she focussed solely on him.
“I accept.” Revali said graciously, bowing slightly. “I am impressed by your decision making in electing me as your Rito Champion.”
Zelda clapped her gloved hands, the sound muffled and dainty. “Thank you, Revali. I am eternally grateful. I’ll have a messenger send letters immediately for what is needed. Hylia be with you.” she gushed, clumsily reaching for her horse’s reins. “We must go before we freeze.” she added, turning to the knights, who began to guide their horses away.
“We can’t all be Rito.” Revali retorted with a chuckled.
Link rolled his eyes.
The Princess bowed her head for the millionth time, expressing goodbyes and thank-yous before Link gently cocked his head to the waiting guards. Leaving Revali behind, Link followed Zelda, turning his head slightly to raise his hand and flip him off.
Petty.
Childish.
Juvenile, even.
Revali scoffed, turning on his heel and launching himself into the air, making an effort to have his Gale whip Link’s hair into his eyes.
Soaring above Hebra, Revali looked down at the stupid knight’s even tinier silhouette.
The Master Sword must have been having a really, really rough day when it chose him.