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For those who was lucky enough to have never suffered amnesia, recalling hurts...a lot.

...worse than wounds from battling monsters; electric arrows from pesky Lynels; Gerudo Desert's blistering heat or Hebra Mountains' biting cold; guardians' death-inducing beam and certainly the attacks of the revolting Blight Ganons.

It'd been lingering in Link's head - a sense of frustration and longing since the moment princess Zelda's disembodied whisper woke him from his seemingly eternal slumber. Yet his body, as if driven by his own will or some goddessforsaken force, continued to move. For the first time in a century, he walked into the sunlight. It'd been undoubtedly a morning, as if Hyrule itself decided to wake alongside him, and despite the cold dampness, Link felt an incredible sense of freshness as he was graced by the crisp morning air.

Morning air...

_ Hyrule has nice morning air, though it pales in comparison to Rito Village's._

Link winced as the first tiny fragment of memory returned to him, but it only lasted a few seconds.

For some reasons, the Hylian felt compelled to follow instructions from the old man, who later turned out to the king Rhoam's ghost. He soon understood why. Exploring the shrines granted his Sheikah slate all sorts of useful runes, from creating ice blocks from any water body, temporarily freezing time around inanimate objects to manipulating metal with magnetism or even producing remotely controlled bombs, you name it. Along the way, by taking down enemy camps, Link also regained his brilliant battle instinct that'd earned him the champion post in the first place. Still, what truly had Link's interest was the old man's promised reward - the paraglider. The Hylian couldn't quite explain why, but as soon as he heard of the item, an overwhelming sense of familiarity arose in his chest. Link knew the paraglider belonged to him - as in obviously, not something he had to earn through trials and challenges.

The moment Link touched the paraglider, his suspicion was immediately confirmed.

I made this for you, my airheaded Hylian. From now on, we shall soar amidst the wind the way we do everything else..._together._

From the moment he reentered this world, Link's existence had essentially boiled down to three purposes: Fighting for survival, solving the shrines to enhance his arsenal and completing king Rhoam's tasks. Joy was an alien concept, and how couldn't it be when he was stranded in a deserted plateau and only had interaction with an old man's lingering ghost who spoke in nothing but riddles and a bunch of monsters whose priority was to smack him in the head with their clubs whenever he came into their sight?

Then it all changed when he reclaimed his paraglider.

Link enjoyed flying so much, it made the Hylian wonder how a simple act could possibly bring him such joy after a long period devoid of positivity. In fact, Link would go as far as neglecting king Rhoam's order and spending day after day indulging himself in his newfound pleasure instead of heading for Kakariko village immediately. For a hero destined to save Hyrule as he was told, this would seem extremely irresponsible, but Link couldn't help it. Whenever the sky embraced him, Link was overwhelmed with a sense of safety and bliss - something he could never truly feel on the ground, where Ganon and its mobs of monsters awaited to eat him alive whenever they got a chance.

But still, the Hylian eventually found his way to the village known by the name of Kakariko, where he soon came face-to-face with the awaiting Impa. Their confrontation was initially awkward, at least to Link, since he barely had any memory of the old lady, but from the tiny bit of information he got from king Rhoam, Impa was apparently the one sealing him in the Shrine of Resurrection while Ganon was laying waste to Hyrule. If that was the case, she must've been alive and well back then, and somehow survived the test of time with her mind intact, which was quite the impressive feat. At the same time, it was a sad reminder to Link that all he used to know had either perished or was withering away. He was a man out of time, awakened only to fulfill his duty. He truly was alone in this world.

No sentiment was involved in their conversation, or as Link rather called it, more information dumping. Impa, like king Rhoam before her, only served as an exposition machine to fill in the blank in Link's head. She unveiled the secret of how the Kingdom of Hyrule met its demise: The royal family learnt of Calamity Ganon's impending arrival, then discovered and unearthed the dormant guardians with the intention of deploying their help and four Divine Beasts to deal with Ganon - a move that proved to be their undoing. The guardians, corrupted by Ganon, swiftly destroyed their kingdom while the champions, elite and courageous as they had been, met their tragic end at the hand of the beast's vile avatars. Daruk of the Goron, Urborsa of the Gerudo, Mipha of the Zora, and Revali of the Rito.

Revali.

Link's chest throbbed painfully. Revali - The name clicked in his mind like the first of many missing pieces that the Hylian knew he needed for the puzzle which was his very heart. Link wanted more. He tried to search every nook and cranny of his scattered mind, but was met with disappointment and frustration since his still-blurring mindscape refused to give in even a tiny bit of information. To make matters worse for his mental condition, Link now had yet another important task to focus on: To free the divine beasts, hopefully without getting himself killed first, and plead for their assistance in his war against Calamity Ganon.

And so, the foretold hero began his journey to save Hyrule.

Following Impa's instructions, the Hylian champion set his sight for Hateno village, where he sought to unlock the Sheikah Slate's true power at the ancient tech laboratory. Having accepted the bitter facts that he A) would be mostly alone for the duration of his deadly endeavor and B) no longer had the powerful Hyrule kingdom behind his back, Link did everything imaginable for resources. Foraging, hunting, mining, slaying monsters for materials, solving shrines for weapons or helping people for payment, he would do anything as long as it was morally acceptable and beneficial. The Hylian couldn't count how many people he'd helped, but he remembered them all...be it a giant Korok whose festive dance magically allowed him to carry more weapons, a hyperactive kid who kept giving his grandpa's money away for a chance to see new weapons, a Zora requesting Lynel photos to warn others of those dangerous beasts, a Rito fledgling prioritizing Salmon Meuniere over her siblings, a Goron nearly getting himself entombed alive fetching painkiller for his boss, or even the young chief of Gerudo tribe whose sole obsession was regaining her heirloom lightning-proof headdress...and so many others.

Link remembered them all. He never wanted to forget...nor be forgotten, again.

To his consolation, even though Link spent most of his journey in solitude, when he did get company, he really enjoyed it. The Hylian always looked forwards to Kass - the robust yet extremely affable Rito bard, whose wondrous melody not only soothed Link's mind but also helped him discover hidden shrines. Another case was when he ventured to Zora dormant, where he didn't exactly receive a warm welcome. While some elders treated him with hostility and one even outright rejected his help as they put the blame on him for Mipha's loss, prince Sidon - who undoubtedly suffered a great deal from his sister's death and should've resented Link more than anyone else - turned out to be his most supportive and trusting ally. After putting up with Zora geezers, Link found it impossible to turn down the prince's carefree and enthusiastic youthfulness, not to mention without assistance from the brave Zora, he could hardly board Vah Ruta, much less freeing it. When things did become too grim and he was without the luxury of companion, Link could always unwind with air-gliding or a ride on his trusty steed Epona.

If Link could survive to tell his story, which he suspected would be named after a certain princess even though he was the one doing all the heavy-lifting, his battles against the Blights would undoubtedly be cited as the most perilous parts, and while indeed they were, Link had never considered them difficult. If anything, his greatest challenge was the moments he had to confront his deceased comrades.

Was Link happy to free the champions' souls, of course he was, yet his joy always got spoiled by an immeasurable sense of guilt and sadness. These courageous warriors lost their lives and suffered in their death for a hundred years because of his utter incompetence, because he - the so-called chosen hero - failed them when they needed him most. Link was scared. As if he didn't loathe himself enough, the Hylian could hardly imagine how he would react if the champions, too, decided to put the blame on him.

Naturally, none of them did.

Being held prisoner aboard his own divine beast for a century apparently hadn't dampened Daruk's enthusiasm in the slightest. The gentle giant greeted Link like a little brother and gave him words of encouragement before passing his mighty protection to Link. Even as a flickering ghost, Urbosa remained as authoritative as she was when she'd been alive. Together with her power over lightning, the noble Gerudo also entrusted Link with princess Zelda's safety, her expression made it clear she would not tolerate anything but success.

Link had thought Mipha would be his toughest reunion yet...and indeed it was. During his conversation with Dorephan, the Zora king was visibly shocked and saddened when Link confirmed the absence of his daughter's memory in his mind. The Hylian's heart ached when Sidon revealed the meanings behind the Zora armor Mipha tailor-made for him, and upon gazing at her statue, her immortalized form, a fragment of memory returned to him, vivid as if it was happening in front of his very eyes. They sat aboard Vah Ruta; Mipha tended to a wound on his arm as she expressed her concerns for him; her voice soft and loving; her gaze sincere and gentle. She was...perfect, be it as a daughter, a sister, a student, a princess or a champion. If a few minutes of flashback were enough to give Link that impression, he couldn't begin to picture how Dorephan, Sidon, Muzu and other Zoras coped with her death, and the Hylian finally understood the bitterness and hostility some of them held toward him.

Slaying the monstrosity responsible for the Zoras's misery was daunting, but facing the liberated soul of their beloved champion was heartbreaking. Like the East Reservoir somehow managed to contain Ruta's downpour, Link was seconds away from losing it at the sight of Mipha. Other than the fact that Mipha was...no longer alive, everything about her was exactly as Link remembered. Those eyes looking at him with love, now accompanied by a profound sadness, and the Hylian found himself frozen as he gazed into them. Should he take the blame for her death and apologize to her? Knowing Mipha, that would only leave her even more miserable. Should he at least allow her one last bit of happiness by reciprocating her love? As much as Mipha's loss pained him, Link knew he didn't, and had never loved the Zora in such way. Perhaps he cherished her as a sister, but that was as far as their relationship went, and telling her otherwise would only dishonor her memory and legacy.

In the end, Link could only watch as Mipha blessed him with her healing grace, before the golden light warped him back to Zora Dormant.

"I'm sorry..."

Something about Rito Village had always enticed Link. A stark contrast to the harsh weather conditions of Zora Dormant, Gerudo Town or Goron City, the avian village was brimming with sunlight, fresh air and gentle breeze, which already made it a better setting to battle a monstrosity on a giant flying construction than a volcano, a lake or a desert. Moreover, while it usually took Link a while to navigate in new or forgotten areas, the Hylian found it inexplicably easy to work his way through the Ritos' homeland. Any attempt at explanation always led to one possibility, that for some reasons, he'd spent an awful lot of time in the windy village before losing his memory.

He got his first crack at those reasons soon enough, and it didn't turn out...exactly the way he'd imagined.

The Rito Champion - the one known as Revali, who Link somehow knew he held very close to his heart, appeared in front of him, rude, arrogant, pompous, egotistical and overall just an insufferable asshole. To simply put it, Revali (or at least the version in his first callback) was the living embodiment of everything that Link always hated.

Still, if Link's journey, especially his incident with the Zoras, had taught him anything, relationships did not necessarily go sour after a terrible first impression. Given that Revali's name was all it took to constantly stir up his amnesiac mind, Link didn't need to be a genius to assume they had been either the best of friends or the worst of rivals. Given that they must've at least worked together at some point in the past, Link pretty much hoped the second case wasn't true.

Everyone in Rito village spoke highly of Revali. They praised his supreme prowess in archery, they admired his incredible valor, they complimented his skills as Medoh's piloy, and they just overall adored every aspect of him as a champion. However, the only thing Link cared about was tales about Revali's uncanny friendship with the Hylian Champion. According to some "witnesses", their relationship began on a rather strained note, as during the Hylian's first visit to Rito village, Revali had showed nothing toward him but animosity. Somehow things changed drastically after they'd joined force to escort princess Zelda back to Hyrule Castle, and when the princess's appointed knight came to Rito village the second time, he and Revali had already become the best of friends, with some even noticed how oddly protective their champion was to his Hylian comrade. Link was glad to learn all of those, but he still couldn't shake off the hunch that there was more going on between him and Revali than just a really close friendship.

...

Seeing Revali in reality, even in his spirit form, was different from Link's memory. In fact, he was nearly frozen in shock as soon as the Rito champion emerged from the depths of his liberated divine beast. Mouth slightly agape, Link could only stand still and take in the sight of his former comrade, down to the smallest detail - his frame, his height, his armor, his scarf, his wings, his feathers, his beak...his eyes. The Rito still spoke to Link in the same patronizing manner as he'd been since the knight boarded his divine beast, yet Link couldn't help noticing how warm his presence was to him. In that moment, the barrier between him and the memories he desperately sought felt thinner than ever, yet it somehow remained irritably impenetrable, leaving Link so frustrated, his handed balled fists and began to tremble furiously. It wasn't until the sun dawned in the background of their reunion and the manifestation of Revali's gale entered his body that everything clicked into place.

There they were, sitting on the top of Revali's roost, the Rito holding Link close as they admired the sunrise together. Then, Revali presented him with the magnificent Falcon Bow, they exchanged sincere, words, and...

"Revali..." the name escaped Link's mouth before he knew it, and repeated itself when the Rito he tried to reach still yet to turn around, "Revali!"

...

Link thought he had seen it all. After all, he'd been through countless ordeals after being awakened from his absurdly long nap. Link had survived the Great Plateau's wilderness with the mental capabilities of a newborn. He'd slain countess monsters, including the monstrosities dwelling deep within the divine beasts. He'd solved goddess knew how many puzzles and shrines. It was quite a long journey, and while Link did get exhausted at times, he'd never felt crestfallen and desperate, not until now...

The moment he remembered his loved one was the moment he realized they were now worlds apart.

Immediately, Link jumped at Revali as the Rito embraced him in his wings. Hyrule or Calamity Ganon be damned, he just wanted to be frozen in this moment, to stay with Revali for eternity, even if he lacked the warmth of a living body, even if he knew it was a selfish desire.

And as he came to realize he'd helped so many, yet always failed his most important ones - his princess, his friends...his love, tears started streaming down Link's face. Link had reached the point where words could no longer describe his misery, and during his breakdown, he began to question the purpose of his very existence. Why resurrected him only to have him suffer? Why made him fight for this world when it took everything away from him?

Just as he considered giving up, Link felt Revali's arms stroking his back lovingly, and the Rito's gentle voice filled his ears, "Don't cry. Didn't I tell you to never take responsibility for anything by yourself? I couldn't be more proud of you, Link, and I'm sure everyone feels the same."

"I need you, Revali. I don't know if I can continue like this without you. I need you..." Link choked in a vain attempt to halt his crying.

"You have me. You've always had me, since the day we first met, since a hundred years ago, just like you have me now, and always. Every time my gale lifts you to the sky, every time the wind caresses your hair, I shall be there with you." Revali stroke Link's golden hair before placing a hand on his chest, "As long as this heart beats for me, as long as you carry this memory, I'll never die."

Link said nothing. Perhaps Revali was right, that people only truly died when they were forgotten, and for a second, Link was tempted believe in that idea. Still, it wasn't long before the sadness and despair within the champion remerged and threatened to corrupt him again. Revali seemed to notice that, and he mercifully decided to break the unease silence, "Hey, Link..."

The Hylian gave no verbal response, instead he just nodded.

"Once you returned to Rito Village, the Elder will offer you the treasure chest in his roost...funny, that geezer doesn't even know what's inside, but I do. It's my Great Eagle Bow."

Link blinked. He'd already known where the Rito was going, "I can't, Revali...I-I'm not worthy."

"Link...Why are you always under the impression that you're not good enough, because trust me, no one, and I mean no one, is better than you. Now, it pains me to see my masterpiece rot in that godforsaken chest, but I'd rather it does if anyone inherits it but you."

Before Link could protest, Revali continued, "Since Medoh is now freed, I no longer have to worry about it blowing up Rito Village, but that also means until the day you face Calamity Ganon, I'll be of no use to you, but at least carry my bow. I've always consider it an extension of myself so this way, we can fight together. Please...accept this one last request from me, Link."

At last, those heartfelt words reached Link. Snuggling closer to his lover, the Hylian nodded slightly, "I understand. I won't tarnish your legacy."

Satisfied, Revali continued to stroke Link's hair and back as the two shared a short moment of peace and intimacy together, before they eventually untangled and got up.

Link looked into his lover's eyes, and for a second, he managed to gather enough of whatever positivity left in him to finally smile. He smiled for the sake of his loved one, for the sake of this one last memory, however insincere it seemed.

"I love you, Revali."

"I love you too, Link."

...

As soon as he was sent back to Rito Village, Link dropped into his knees and started weeping uncontrollably. His smile, given to Revali, now meant nothing, and as Link surrendered his last glimmer of hope, a fire began to burn in the Hylian's chest - vengeance, fueled by his love for Revali and everything, _everyone_he'd lost in the name of this damned war. Once people couldn't love anymore, they hated, and from that day on, the hero knew he was reduced to a walking mass of rage and anguish, but he simply couldn't care less. He'd made a vow.

He would do whatever it took to avenge his loved ones, even if that meant throwing his life away. He would cut down every single monster he came across until he could get to Calamity Ganon, even if he had to bathe himself in blood. He would unleash his fury on the foul creatures infesting the land until the very sight of him had them running for their life. He would end this Calamity once and for all, so that no one had to suffer like he did, again.

Vengeance could drive people to achieve the unthinkable, but when all were said and done, what would they be left with?

Sitting on the flight deck - now named Revali's Landing in honor of the fallen Rito, Link gazed emptily into the sunset. Looming in the distance, Vah Medoh remained completely static atop the great stone pillar, just like it'd been for the last five years, since the day Link defeated Calamity Ganon.

Five years weren't a long time but definitely not short either, but Link just couldn't tell. He was, after all, a hundred years old man trapped in the body of an adolescent. Five years he'd spent serving Zelda tirelessly in exchange for an opportunity to relinquish his knighthood and all the burdens that came with it. He helped her rebuild the castle, train her army, terminate the remaining monsters in Hyrule, solidify her status as the queen of Hyrule and even serve as the last bridge between the old kingdom and the four major tribes. Sure, it would take years or even decades to completely restore the kingdom to its former glory, but Link knew his work had at least laid the foundation for its future developments.

To everyone, he was still the princess' dutiful knight but little did they know deep inside, Link was withering away. After his resignation, Link retreated to Rito Village, hoping to remain there until the day goddess Hylia mercifully let him depart this world. He knew Revali would want him to move on, but he simply couldn't. Maybe his century long slumber had rendered him unable to let go of the past, but even if he tried to start a new life, where would he find a person capable of understanding and sharing his pain?

Sighing, Link continued to stared at the horizon, thus failed to notice a familiar Rito approaching him from behind.

"Is that you, master Link?"

"Hi, Kass." Link turned around and greeted the bard with a smile - something he hadn't done in ages. As robust as his appearance was, Kass had such an enthusiastic and friendly aura to him that it was impossible not to smile in his presence.

"It's so nice to see you again, master Link." Kass beamed at the Hylian before taking a seat next to him.

"Same here...and please, just call me Link. I'm no longer a champion or the princess' appointed knight." Link chuckled bitterly, "Anyway, what brings you back here?"

"You see, as much of a traveler I am, I do have a family, and I feel the need to visit my wife and children every now and then, so I'm taking a moment's rest from my tireless search for the ancient songs to perform in my hometown."

Link's eyes stung a bit as Kass mentioned his children. Family, huh? Back when he and Revali had been together, they'd discussed their post-Calamity plan many times. They'd build a house in Hateno or Rito village, away from prying eyes, then adopt a child to raise together. Link remembered he'd insisted on a Hylian boy while Revali had resolutely wanted a Rito chick, and in the end, they'd agreed to have one each. Goddess, it felt like eons ago...

"That's...good to know." Link said evasively, noticing the curious look Kass was giving him. He must've zoned out reminiscing the good old time.

"Indeed it is. By the way, I've something I must ask of you. I've a song that I need you to hear. I wish to speak with you, is that all right?" the Rito asked hopefully.

"Sure." Link shrugged. He had plenty of time to spare, not to mention the time spent with Kass had always benefited him, one way or another.

"Thank you ever so much. I wanted to talk to you about my teacher."

_Oh..._Link did a mental check. Throughout their various encounters, the Rito bard had mentioned his late mentor several times, though Link never really cared since it always fell into the category of background details. Now that Kass suddenly brought that up again, this time seemingly with more meaning than just a namedrop, Link would be lying to say he wasn't at all interested.

"My teacher was of the Sheikah tribe. He was the court poet for the Hyrulean royal family. At the time, there was a beautiful princess in the royal family, quite close to my teacher in age, apparently."

Princess...Hold on, he didn't mean that princess, did he? Link's expression became extremely bewildered, but Kass appeared too absorbed in his story to notice. With a sympathetic sigh, the bard continued, "Though he must have known it was doomed to be unrequited, my teacher fell in love with her..."

If Link wasn't caught off guard by what he'd heard, Kass's next disclosure surely left him nonplussed, "But the princess herself only had eyes for her escort, her own knight attendant."

What?! No, where in the Calamity did your master get that idea? She hated me. Despised me. Loathed me. I was the one holding her back from whatever the hell she wanted to do! Link screamed inwardly, rage started filling him faster than Vah Ruta's downpour could overload the East Reservoir lake. As if having his entire existence shaped around a prophecy and a sword wasn't depressing enough, now people just had to poke their nose into his romantic affairs. Thankfully, he somehow managed not to lash out on Kass, as he wholeheartedly believed in the Rito's innocence, and Kass was just too nice to be at the receiving end of his wrath.

"My teacher was consumed with jealousy. He fumed that the knight was neither nobility nor royalty himself...And then the Calamity struck. My teacher believed a hero would appear to beat back the Calamity." Kass now reached for his accordion, and Link already knew what came next.

Sure enough, the Rito bard offered, "He poured that belief into a song, and that song is what I need you to hear."

The instrument began to play, gracing the evening air with its gentle melody, which was soon followed by Kass's singing.

[An ancient hero, a Calamity appears, now resurrected after ten thousand years.

Her appointed knight gives his life, shields her figure, and pay the price.

The princess' love for her fallen knight awakens her power, and within the castle the Calamity is forced to cower.

But the knight survives! In the Shrine of Resurrection he sleeps, until from his healing dream he leaps!

For fierce and deadly trials await, to regain his strength, fulfill his fate.

To become a hero once again! To wrest the princess from evil's den.

The hero, the princess - hand in hand, must bring the light back to this land.]

"My teacher fled the Calamity and returned to his hometown of Kakariko village, but on his way, he witnessed the princess' knight sacrifice himself to protect the princess." Kass kept on with his story, his breath steady as if the lengthy song he just performed had no effect on it whatsoever, "The elder of Kakariko village, Impa, explained these circumstances to him, and his mind was made up. He would seek the songs of the hero who sealed the Calamity away in an age past, so that they could be passed onto the knight once he returned...All so that the princess can be saved."

As he finished, Kass turned to Link, "Those were my teacher's last words, passed on now through me. So, appointed knight, hero of time, champion of Hyrule, will you accept this song from my departed teacher?"

"It's not fair..."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's not fair!" Link blurted out, finally letting his emotions loose, "That all people remember are the princess and her knight. It's not fair, that the monsters I slain got a second chance at life during bloodmoons while those who gave their lives for a better tomorrow never did. It's not fair, that your teacher was love-sickened because he believed in some nonsense about me and Zelda. We were never a thing, I'm sick of people telling me that. I..."

Taking a deep breath to calm himself down, Link quietly contemplated opening up to Kass. Obviously words couldn't solve his problems, but if Link was to share his secrets with anyone, he would choose the Rito bard, and how long had it been since he last had the luxury of confiding in another person?

"I'm sorry, Kass, I just don't know where to start, but if you wish to know the truth, here it is: I never had any feeling for Zelda. The only one I love now, and always will, is Revali."

...

Kass stared at him as silence fell over them; a mix of disbelief and amazement evident in the Rito's eyes, "Revali...you mean, Champion Revali, pilot of Vah Medoh, the great hero who controlled the wind?"

"That's an awful lot of titles you have for him. If only others remember him just as much." Link's response was venomous and though unintentionally, it seemed directed at Kass. Still, the bard showed remarkable tolerance, his gaze growing more sympathetic as Link's story unraveled.

"People overestimate my strength, and I honestly don't know why the Master Sword even bothered with me, but Revali was different. He understood and loved me for who I really am. He gave my life more meaning than being a living weapon, King Rhoam's errand boy or the princess' flawless knight.

I know I shouldn't be complaining, but damn it, Kass, why don't I ever have a say in how my life plays out? Is it so wrong that I want something for myself instead of the greater good? Everyone heaped the world onto me even though I wasn't ready. A war brought me love but also torn it away from me. Fate let me live while it should've been them, should've been him, and Mipha's Grace makes sure I can't even kill myself to join them in death."

Utterly speechless, Kass fixed his eyes on the grief-stricken Hylian, his mind struggling to work around the notion of one individual bearing such otherworldly anguish. A traveler himself, Kass was no stranger to grieving lives and sorrowful tales, yet those fortunate enough to cross paths with the minstrel always found themselves significantly better after a soothing melody and some words of encouragement from him. Right now though, and for the first time in his life, Kass legitimately had no idea what he should say. Still, if Link's final words implied anything, Kass knew he must act quickly before the Hylian subjected himself to all sorts of unimaginable dangers just to end his own life. Link did say Mipha's Grace would keep him alive, but the potential pain resulted from his rashness was enough to make Kass shudder.

"Link..." taking a deep breath, Kass placed a wing on Link's shoulder, "I dare not claim what I'm about to say insightful or comforting, nor do I understand the challenge to reconnect with a world where familiar faces no longer exist, but...have you ever consider the love and support you rob yourself by refusing to share?"

"Share? With who? I may look like this, but I'm a hundred years old, Kass. Where do I hope to find a Hylian capable of understanding my stories other than, maybe Zelda, and I'm sure the princess...ah, my bad, the queen, has way too many royalty businesses to waste her time on my personal issues." Link said, mockery stung in his voice.

"Surely that wasn't what I meant. I'm well aware that no matter how many comforting words I might come up with, they'll end up disrespectful to the sacrifice you and the champions have made. Consolation is a nice sentiment, but when it comes to a person in need, I believe a helping hand at the right time is invaluable. Link, if you graciously allow me a chance, I could share my humble knowledge and perhaps, a solution, however useless you may find them." Kass offered, giving Link's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

For a brief moment, Link was completely taken aback. So often had he catered to others' needs that receiving such kindly gestures had almost become an alien concept to Link...but now, a Rito he knew very little about, was genuinely offering him comfort and help. Kass's words, though simple, were extremely considerate and insightful, enough to move Link, to let him experience a feeling other than grief and pain for the first time in years.

"If you want to, you don't have to hold back. I'll be here until you finish." Kass smiled, opening his wings welcomingly.

"C-can I really?" Link inquired, his lips quivering.

"Of course you can!" Kass smiled warmly, "Heroes aren't supposed to be statues. They can, and should be susceptible to emotions. Only those capable of love know what they want to protect, and those capable of hate know they can never tolerate evil, so trust me, Link, having emotions doesn't make you weak."

Link felt into the bard's embrace. A single tear broke free, only to be followed by another, then another, until his face and Kass's feathers were completely drenched by warm, salty liquid.

"There...there..." Kass hummed, patting Link's back gently. The gesture was meant to comfort children, and right now, he knew the one sobbing and clutching his chest was no different from a poor, helpless child. Such cruelty life sometimes inflicted upon its subjects, that it could even break someone as resilient as the hero of time himself.

"Feel any better?" the bard ventured as Link's breath gradually became more steady.

"Yeah..." Link replied in a muffled voice, "Thanks, Kass. I haven't felt so...at peace in a long time."

"It is my pleasure. Then perhaps it's time to discuss my suggestion." the Rito beamed, "I believe you've, during your journey across Hyrule, conquered many trials to perfect your skills and strengthen your arsenal, yes?"

"If you mean shrines, then yes, one hundred and twenty so far," Link added, "You were even there a few times."

"Ah yes...Oh, such joy I was rewarded with whenever my melody helped you discover the hidden relics." Kass said dreamily, but felt a little heat on his cheeks when Link cleared his throat loudly, "A-anyway, recently, I've heard rumors about one final trial, offered by the great Monk Maz Koshia."

"Another trial, yay...can't wait to see how it'll help me save the world." Link scoffed, casting a disdainful look into the distance.

"Easy now, my hero," Kass said patiently. Without missing a beat, the bard continued, "Calamity Ganon is gone, there's nothing to worry about. Also, I believe it's time the entirety of Hyrule know they should fend for themselves instead of relying on you. From what I've heard, this trial will grant the one who conquers it the ultimate reward - a wish, that is."

"A...wish." Link's face became slightly blank, as if he was still comprehending what he'd just heard.

"Yes," Kass tapped his beak thoughtfully, "Though I suppose it should, at least, be reasonable."

"Is resurrection reasonable enough?" Link breathed, and Kass noticed something began to change in the Hylian's gaze. Gone were the sadness and despair, hope and determination, not to mention joy, now flickered in Link's blue eyes...almost like he'd just been awakened from the depths of a nightmarish sleep.

"From those who possess the will and courage to reclaim their happiness, always!" the bard nodded. Together, they watched in silence as the sun slowly descended, painting the mountain range in a goldish shade of orange.

"Kass, where can I take this trial?"

"Where Hyrule regained its hope, the Shrine of Resurrection."

Of course they wouldn't call it the 'final trial' for no reason.

If Link was to undertake this trial, he knew preparations needed to be done. Since the Sheikah slate had been returned to Zelda for research purposes, Link must first travel to Hyrule castle for a favor from the queen. The Hylian knight had no idea what challenges awaited ahead, but after countless battles and trials, Link knew he could at least make things easier with some ancient Sheikah powers, and most importantly, being able to teleport anywhere with a simple touch wasn't something to scoff at.

Yet even with those advantages, Link still ended up spending a ridiculous amount of time doing a bunch of ridiculous things that he had no idea what was for.

For first mission, Link had to clear out several enemy camps, which was all well and good if he could trade the weapon Maz Koshia gave him for...anything else, even a tree branch. At least swordsmanship was still viable with a tree branch, what was he supposed to do with an oversized fork? Adding to Link's frustration, the weapon's magical attributes also rendered him vulnerable to the weakest of attacks while stripping him the luxury of his healing items, and just to confirm its worthlessness, the fork's all-killing power only last for...two hits, before it took a few seconds to recharge. All of those demerits weren't worth the ability to one-shot monsters, and hadn't it been for his battle instinct, agility and footwork, Link would've been toasted Hylia knew how many times. The Hylian had a feeling Maz Koshia was toying with his patience rather than testing his skills.

Still, Link managed to overcome his first challenge, and as Maz Koshia declared his completion of the trial, the clunky fork broke apart and formed four orbs, which then flew to four corners across Hyrule.

"Now that you have proven your power, a new journey awaits." the monk's ghostly, disembodied voice said, "Go to the four locations that will be revealed to you and search for greater heights than ever before."

...

At least he got to use his supplies again.

Following the first trial, Link now worked on each individual champion's challenge, and his meticulous planning proved more crucial than ever. With the Sheikah slate once again secured at his waist, the Hylian was able to spare himself a great deal of time travelling massive distances, and after the nightmarish experience with Maz Koshia's all-killing weapon, Link had learnt to appreciate his arsenal even more, or anything that would allow him to survive one hit for that matters.

To qualify himself for each champion's trial, Link must first undertake three small tasks, any of which when completed would unveil a shrine. Instead of the usual spirit orb, these particular shrines presented Link with a corresponding divine beast's emblem, and after Link collected a set of three similar pieces, he could cash them in for a trip to a place within his mind called the Illusory Realm, where the final challenge awaited. Of course if Link had prior knowledge about the emblems' function as a medium for him to have rematches against the Blight Ganons, he would've destroyed the shrines instead of solving them. As if his mind needed further messing up.

Still, Link had come way too far to give up. Up until the day he learnt of this trial from Kass, the former knight had never realized how much misery he'd been putting himself through. People called him the light, yet Link felt as if his very own life was shrouded in darkness, consumed by vengeance, loneliness and despair, until he was barely a husk of his former self. A hundred years ago, he'd been burdened, but he had Revali, he had his friends Mipha, Daruk and Urbosa. They'd stood by his side on the battlefield, they'd shared with him not only the weight of Hyrule but also the rare moments of peace and joy. They'd given him the strength to pick up his sword and fight like the valiant hero everyone made him out to be, while also reminded him to keep on smiling like the compassionate person he really was.

Perhaps Kass had a point. Perhaps Link had indeed underestimated the merit of sharing or relying on others. In anyone's life, there will always be some, or at least one 'irreplaceable' person. They can be the soulmate, family or simply good friends, and we'll find ourselves drifting toward them. No matter how long time can stretch or how far the distance can get, we'll eventually reunite with them. Even if there is nothing to say, we can always find peace just by sitting next to each other, looking at each other, feeling each other.

To Link, Revali, Mipha, Daruk and Urbosa were those irreplaceable people. The need to once again be with them and to feel that warmth had driven Link all the way here, and it refused to let him give up.

"Those who lack determination will find this trial unforgiving..." Maz Koshia warned every time Link entered the Illusory Realm, but even with a limited weapon set, the Hylian would never allow himself to fall to the monstrosities directly responsible for the murder of his loved ones. The determined and resourceful warrior repeated his now fabled feats, slaying the Blight Ganons one after another in particularly brutal fashion, especially Windblight Ganon, which he saved for last.

When Link returned to the Shrine of Resurrection to claim his reward, he was rather irritated to learn that there was yet one last challenge to overcome. The Hylian had no choice but to comply, and he'd expected another bout against his old friend Calamity Ganon in the Illusory Realm, but no...this time, the battle was real, very real, and as for his final opponent, Maz Koshia himself filled that role.

Despite the monks being his benefactors, Link was never really fond of them, their withered appearance nor their ghostly, ambient voice. Maz Koshia's battling style also bore an uncanny resemblance to the idiotic Yiga clan master Link'd encountered during his quest to retrieve the Thunder helm, which would've been amusing hadn't been the fact that he was fighting a mummy on a floating platform. Nonetheless, Link's resolve and battle prowess ultimately bested Maz Koshia, even after he'd turned into a giant midway through their fight.

...

"You faced that challenge with great courage. You have erased all doubt from my mind. You are a true hero." Maz Koshia complemented after his defeat.

What else do you want from me? Go back in time and destroy Calamity Ganon with a soup ladle? Link bit back his retort. He was more concerned about securing his wish than throwing random insults at someone he'd already bested.

"In the name of the Goddess Hylia, I hereby bestow upon the hero who conquered this trial a wish, as long as it is within my capabilities." Maz Koshia offered, "Tell me, what does your heart desire?"

"I want to resurrect the champions who lost their lives a hundred years ago. Is that possible?"

The monk went silent, and a feeling of dread slowly crept up Link's spine. Perhaps his wish was too greedy and selfish, but heroism be damned, wasn't this trial meant to fulfill a personal wish? If Maz Koshia denied it, he had nothing left to desire. Truly, nothing.

"Indeed, such a request should be impossible under normal circumstances, since there is no way to summon souls that have departed to the afterlife," Link's shoulder slumped at the monk's response, "However, I can sense the presence of champions' souls in you. Perhaps they had left a form of spiritual mark on your body, and if I can use those marks as a link to connect with the afterlife, perhaps there is still a chance to resurrect them."

The Hylian's heart practically drummed in his chest. There was still hope, and Link would never let it go, not even the tiniest bit, "Marks? You meant...the champions' abilities?"

"Correct," Maz Koshia confirmed, "And I must warm you that even with those marks, I cannot guarantee success. Once you decide to process with this, you will lose the champions' abilities, regardless of the outcome. So, what will be your decision?"

"Please continue."

"Very well," Maz Koshia raised his hand and gestured at Link, who felt a sudden yanking motion in his chest as if the monk was telepathically pulling something out of his body. Sure enough, four energy spheres quickly emerged from within the Hylian, each bearing a divine beast emblem: Vah Medoh - Revali's Gale, Vah Ruta - Mipha's Grace, Vah Rudania - Daruk's Protection and Vah Naboris - Urbosa's Fury. Maz Koshia then joined his hands in a praying pose and began chanting a strange incantation, perhaps in ancient Sheikah language.

Link, too, was praying...and this time, his prayers were answered.

After a while, the levitating orbs began to radiate a brilliant light, which soon expanded into four columns. Anxiety bubbling in his stomach, Link tried to keep his gaze fixed on the luminous pillars, but soon the ever-intensifying light became too much for him to bear. When Link was able to open his eyes again, the pillars were slowly fading away, revealing four figures, unmistakably belonged to a Gerudo, a Goron, a Zora and a Rito.

Link blinked, just in time for him to make eye contact with a pair of bewildered green eyes. They were here...he was here - not as blurry blue spirits but real, corporal and alive - right in front of him.

The Hylian's shoulders trembled. He wanted to say something, but his vocal cords had seemingly ceased to function, and by the look of it, Revali was having the same issue.

"What the-...?" Daruk broke the silence at last, scratching his head in confusion.

"Where are we? Last I remember, we'd already...moved on after Link and Zelda defeated Calamity Ganon, hadn't we?" Urbosa inquired, her expression plastered by utter disbelief.

"Link..." Mipha said under her breath as she acknowledged his presence, but at this moment, the Hylian's attention was solely on a certain Rito. Heart drumming and pumping euphoria all over his bloodstream, Link's years' worth of suppressed emotions erupted in the form of choked sobs.

He was devastated...in the best way possible.

With an increasingly moist and blurry vision, Link dragged himself toward Revali, leaving trails of warm, salty liquid after every step. He was afraid, afraid that if he moved too quickly or even just blinked, the one in front of him would vanish, leaving him with nothing again.

Link hardly remembered anything after he'd allowed himself to fall into Revali's loving embrace. Lingering on the air was the scent, warmth and breath of his lover - the breath of the wind.

News of the champions' revival quickly spread across Hyrule and people everywhere rejoiced. The champions were, after all, legendary figures who had participated in the war a hundred years ago, the ones elite and worthy enough to command the mighty divine beasts, the ones universally respected and beloved by their people. What had become even more of a legend, however, was the lengths Link had willingly gone through to bring his friends back from the dead. Ignoring the fact that it'd been well over a century, the trial's difficulty alone was enough to discourage almost anyone attempting to undertake it. Even for hero who vanquished Calamity Ganon, one could only imagine how much of a loyal friend he was to the other champions. Of course they were not wrong, but that was only half the story, and as for the other half, only those were present when Link fell into Revali's arms and a certain Rito bard knew.

For the entire next week though, Link hardly smiled once despite always greeted with waves of compliments. When Zelda learnt of the champions' resurrection, she'd sent royal guards to escort them back to their respective tribes, but insisted that Link stayed at Hyrule castle to help her prepare a royal celebration and provide every single detail of his quest to conquer the final trial. Link wanted to scream in frustration, but as Zelda's former appointed knight, he knew unless her curiosity was sated, it's no use trying to reason with her.

The feast began shortly after a week, and it was just as extravagant as Zelda herself promised. In Hyrule castle, the queen stood where her father once had, but instead of bestowing upon the champions their tittle, Zelda praised their valor, glory and congratulated them for their second chance at life. Still, what truly captured people's attention was the final trial and the one who conquered it. While expectation for the trial's difficulty was indeed high, it was nothing compared to the narration Zelda had to offer.

As the queen gradually disclosed every single detail about Link's quest, Revali could only stare at his Hylian soulmate with a mixture of guilt and sadness.

During his time entrapped in Medoh, Revali had lamented his ghostly form, but even then, he was at least aware of his existence, thoughts and purpose. He could at least have a good view of Rito Village, where warriors like Teba and Harth still remembered and admired him. Ultimately, if there was any solace in his century-long imprisonment, it was the fact that Revali had protected his homeland from the possessed Medoh's wrath.

What about Link?

He woke up in a completely unknown world...weak and alone. He had only himself to rely on, and the responsibility once shared by five champions now solely rested on his shoulders. If Revali thought his duty had been overwhelming back then, he couldn't begin to imagine how Link must've felt. Even now, the Rito's heart still ached whenever he recalled that lonely figure, wandering from land to land, silently protecting Hyrule but never actively asked for anything in return. To be honest, Revali had really hoped that after he was done Calamity Ganon, Link would move on, find another partner and started a new life. He deserved it. Hylia knew he deserved it.

What Revali hadn't expected, though, was Link choosing to remember and wait for him. If Revali himself was forced to wait for someone he knew would never return, death or being erased from existence would've been a better fate.

But soon, realization dawned upon Revali.

The Master Sword chose you because of who you are, not who you suppose to be - Those very words had been spoken to Link from Revali himself, and it wasn't until now he fully understood them. Most people would've threw in the towel under such circumstances, but not Link, because it was who he was from the beginning - A hero who refused to give up, regardless of the odds stacked against him. A light that kept on shining, even in the darkest days.

As a spirit, Revali possessed no sense of "cold", yet it was the exact thing he felt on those lonely, sleepless nights on Medoh. Still, only in the freezing darkness could one learn to cherish the bright and warm light, and now that he'd received a second chance at life, Revali would stop at nothing to protect that light.

During the feast, Revali was approached by a Rito he didn't know in the slightest, then again, he could say the same thing about every living Rito he'd encountered so far. Revali quietly studied the colorful stranger: Definitely male, rather bulky, though with a relaxing and friendly aura to him, and attired in a manner that didn't match a warrior's or merchant's. In fact, the accordion strapped to the Rito's side suggesting a much "softer" occupation than his robust appearance gave off.

"Such an honor to finally meet you, master Revali. My name is Kass." The blue-feathered Rito introduced himself.

"Just Revali, please. Masterful as my skills are, I have long forsaken that title." Revali clicked his beak in disdain. Since his resurrection, everyone except Link, queen Zelda and the other champions had started using that stupid honorific on him again. A hundred years ago, Revali would've gladly accept all the fame and flatters in the world, but now, he regretted not being able to shoot anyone attempted to address him in such a way, especially when his only contribution against Ganon was keeping Medoh in check after getting killed and trapped aboard it.

To his confusion and annoyance, Kass began chuckling softly.

"What's so funny?" Revali frowned.

"Ah, forgive my rudeness, but..." the bard managed, "Link had a similar reaction when I addressed him in the same manner."

"Link? Are you...a friend of his?"

"I guess that's a way to put it. I myself am a traveler, and we've met quite a few times when Link was on his quest to vanquish the Calamity." Kass smiled, "Link is so nice, always stopped by and listened to my music."

"What exactly are you getting at?" Revali inquired. The last thing he needed was some other male bragging about his good time with Link, another Rito no less.

"My apology, getting a tad sidetracked there. I'm here to celebrate the champions' revival, especially you, Revali, but more importantly, there's something about Link I must tell you. Would you be so kind as to spare a few minutes?"

"Fine." Revali huffed. The feathered champion thought of ignoring Kass, but the minstrel had somehow lit the spark of curiosity in him. Revali wanted to know more about Link, about his life in the last five years, but his sense of failure had hindered the Rito from seeking the answer from Link, so this couldn't have been a better chance. On a side note, Revali found it depressingly hilarious how opinion on Link had shifted drastically. Back then, Revali held incredible animosity toward Link, to the point that he considered the knight nothing more than a lucky twink and his reputation was simply a glorified version of the Master Sword's. As of now, the Rito found his own achievement hopelessly insignificant compared to Link's. Freeing the divine beasts, defeating Ganon, saving Hyrule - ask any of the remaining champions, including the Rito himself, to replicate such feats, and Revali doubted they would hold a candle to Link.

The thought of Link had Revali unconsciously glance at the Hylian knight, who appeared to be having a casual talk with Daruk and Urbosa.

"Quite a charming smile he has, isn't it?" Kass remarked, "It's hard to picture a person with such a smile contemplating suicide."

"What?"

"Calm down, champion. Hear what I have to say first."

Taking a deep breath, Kass began to retell his last encounter with the Hylian champion, down to the smallest details - Link's reaction to his late master's song, his uncontrollable emotional outburst, his tears of utter despair, his eyes gleaming new hope.

"I can't even kill myself to join them in the afterlife - those words helped me I realize Link was ready to throw his life away. Come to think of it, he'd done basically everything he set out to do, yet in the end, he had no one to share his joy and accomplishments. Perhaps...he believed he had nothing left to live for." Kass concluded with a sigh, the cheerful expression gone from his face, replaced by a somber one.

By the time Kass's tale came to an end, Revali was already feeling an excruciating pain in his chest, more so than the one Windblight inflicted on him as its beam pierced his feathers and sliced through his heart. It took him a while to speak again.

"Why are you telling me all of this?" the Rito champion asked, a bit breathlessly.

"Because I wish to know what Link is to you now. I know you were lovers, but things could change over the course of a hundred years." Kass said, and quickly added, "Of course, by no means should I be privy to this...personal matter, but Link did learn of the final trial from me, so I'm rather curious whether his effort really paid off, or was it all for naught."

What Link was to him? Revali was completely nonplussed by the question. Had this conversation with Kass never happened, Revali's answer would remain one and the same - Link was his lover...but as of now, Revali found it no longer adequate to convey his feelings for Link. Moreover, it finally struck Revali that he'd yet to actually think about what he was to Link. If he wanted this relationship to be truly everlasting, he must find his own identity and commit to it.

"I think words are no longer enough, but if I have to, then...Link is my light, and I will be his hope." Revali mused, his beak corner curved into a gentle smile at the mentioning of the Hylian knight.

"Spoken like a true soulmate." Kass nodded approvingly, eyes beaming with enthusiasm as if he was happy on Link's behalf, "Then when that time comes, will you allow me the honor of composing a song about the union of Hyrule's two greatest heroes?"

"Do as you wish, but make sure it does him justice." Revali bid Kass goodbye and walked away, his emerald eyes firmly fixed on the figure of a gold-haired Hylian, as to his mind and heart.

...

"Where are we going?" Link asked. Since Revali 'borrowed' him from Daruk and Urbosa, the Rito hardly said anything but a brief "come with me.". The Hylian didn't mind though, as he was enjoying the sensation of Revali's soft feather enveloping his hand, leading him with subtle but unmistakable, almost childlike, excitement.

Link got his answer soon enough. Revali led him to an empty yard outside the castle. Without the presence of gardeners for over a hundred years, the ground was completely covered in layer after layer of weed. Weapons, shield and bows scattered on the ground, though they seemed to be left there rather than the aftermath of battles.

"You recognize this place?" Revali asked, glancing briefly at a dilapidated balcony in the distance, from which anyone would be blessed with a perfect view over this training ground.

Link tilted his head in confusion, but as the Hylian quickly picked up the surroundings, his memories began to stir. He remembered, how could he not? He used to know this place, down to every single blade of grass. He remembered wistfully watching the royal guards train from afar, contemplating joining them yet ultimately relented in fear of them treating him differently because of his status. He remembered spending ages honing his swordsmanship, only to sit alone under a tree and fiddle with the Master Sword as each exhausting day passed. He remembered wishing someone would comment on his skill, offer him an advice or two or just have a casual talk with him, but in the end, his only companion was the empty sunset and the grim prospect of war, regardless of the outcome.

But it all changed one certain morning. That one enticing and mystifying Link descended from the sky, knocking him off his feet with a powerful gush. He recognized Link as an equal. He encouraged Link to use his voice and express his real feelings. He was a gentle breeze that brightened Link's rigidly dull life and filled up his emotional void.

Link's eyes stung a bit...here, of course it had to be here. He tried to speak up, but before any word escaped his lips, a feathery sensation on his cheeks brought Link's thoughts to a halt.

Revali caressed his lover's face briefly before moving to his braids. Since his awakening, Link always had this inexplicable urge to wear his hair in braids, and it wasn't until he reunited with Revali on Vah Medoh did Link understand why. Aesthetic wise, Link's braids were rather clumsy, especial when compared to a Rito's the difference was day and night, yet Revali showed no attempt at fixing them. If anything, he was running his fingers through Link's braids with a fondness only rivalled by that for his prized Great Eagle Bow.

Letting out a sigh of content, Link leaned to Revali's loving touch as he desperately sought the warmth he'd been craving for so long. What happened next, though, almost took the breath out of him. Link watched, almost in a trance, as Revali produced a single feather and tucked it neatly through his braids. Nestling against Link's golden hair, Revali's feather glowed in a navy, almost surreal light. In Rito traditions, this was essentially a courting ritual - the act of giving away and willingly accepting a feather indicated a scared, unbreakable bond between two souls.

"I didn't get to do this back then, hopefully it's not too late now." Revali said sheepishly, heart fluttering in his throat. He'd been through Hylia knew how many ordeals, heck he'd even died and come back, but Revali had never felt so anxious in his life. Still, the Rito quickly regained his composure, as he knew if he ever was to be serious, it'd be right here, right now.

Slowly, Revali took Link's hand and brought it to his chest, "Link, today I stand in front of you, no champion, no glory, no Vah Medoh, just a humble and insignificant Rito. Would you allow me the honor of keeping you accompanied for the rest of our life?"

Revali had already imagined a teary Link, moved by his heartfelt words, but the Hylian's actual reaction was completely different from what he had in mind. Utterly confused, Revali watched as Link struggled to hold back what clearly was laughter, but to no avail, "Pfft...Really, you, of all people, concerned with formalities?"

"That's not formalities! That's called a proposal." Revali explained frantically, yet Link's laugh only grew louder.

"I made you admit it." Link chortled as his breath became ragged from laughing too hard, and Revali realized the Hylian's joyful display was filled with heartiness and mischief rather than mockery. Without a shadow of doubt, the one standing before him right now was truly the Link he knew and loved.

"Alright, I yield," Revali chuckled. The Rito knew he had only himself to blame, but the infectious laugh he got from Link was totally worth it, "But if you've already known, isn't it natural for me to receive some sort of...answer, something other than laughter?"

"Indeed it is," Link nodded, "but first, I need a favor."

"I'm listening?"

"Show me your Gale."

Link's request had Revali taken aback, but his bewilderment quickly turned into a surge of nostalgia as the Rito realized things played out exactly as it had a hundred years ago, though back then, Link had been shy and rather gullible, as opposed to his present cheeky self. Not that Revali minded. He found both versions of the blue-eyed Hylian adorable in their own way.

"As you wish." Revali smirked. Inhaling deeply, the Rito expanded his wings as he tried to focus, vaguely pondering the fact that he hadn't performed this maneuver since his resurrection. Technically speaking, this was his first time ever using Revali's Gale, and how fitting it was to have Link as his audience. The Rito felt a rush as his energy rapidly gathered, followed by air streams that began to form around him, heralding his imminent takeoff. But as usual, Link found a way to surprise him.

With impeccable timing and reflex, Link unstrapped the paraglider on his back and caught the updraft as it lifted them both off the ground. Revali gasped, but what little concern he had quickly dispersed as soon as he noticed Link's expression of unprecedented joy.

He was a fool. How hadn't he realized this sooner?

A perceptive individual, Revali obviously picked up those wistful glimpses on Link's face each time he used his Gale, and he quickly got the meanings behind them. More than a simple desire to conquer the sky, it was a yearning to be with his loved one, whenever and wherever they were. Thus, the paraglider was crafted, not just as a gift, but also a symbol of their bond, and from that on, Revali genuinely believed nothing could ever separate them.

He was_dead_ wrong, and he discovered the harsh truth paying the ultimate price - his own life.

Yes, Link remembered him and even found a way to resurrect him, but after all the physical and mental torment Link'd been through, it was a miracle that he somehow remained sane, much less fully grasping something as absurd as his dead lover coming back to life, regardless of how real Revali was. This situation called forth shock treatment, and from the look of it, Link seemed to know exactly what he needed.

Revali couldn't tell how long he and Link stayed airborne, but as soon as their feet touched the ground, they immediately collapsed from exhaustion, Link lying atop him. The Hylian was panting and sweating profusely, but the unbridled joy on his face was unmistakable, "So long...It's been so long."

"And you'd better get used to this. I plan to be quite clingy from now on." Revali chuckled, "You got your gale, can I get my answer now?"

"How about this?" craning his neck to meet Revali's eyes, Link planted a fervent kiss on the Rito's beak. Revali's feathers went stiff at the intimate gesture, but his body reciprocated on its own, and as his wings enveloped Link in a tight hug, Revali found it no longer possible to keep his emotions in check.

"Link..." Revali whispered, "It's alright now. I'm right here...I'm here with you."

"I know you are, because I won't let you get away this time." Link smiled, nuzzling Revali's beak.

The two of them cuddled quietly, content in the embrace of silky grass, gentle night breeze and each other's warmth. Above them, moonlight illuminated the tranquil night sky, but it was a gentle blue radiance instead of the sinister shade of red that signaled the return of Ganon's hideous creatures.

Who said legends could never have a good ending?

After the feast, Link and Revali retreated to the Hylian's guest room, where they once again became practically inseparable. Now that their emotional thirst was quenched, the two began craving each other in a...different way. Neither of them wanted to wait, and as soon as the door closed behind them, Link and Revali latched onto each other as if their lives depended on it, tasting every breath and feeling every touch.

Driven by a century worth of urges, Link didn't bother himself with any kind of warmup. Pushing Revali onto the bed, the Hylian processed to rid himself of his cloths, and as soon as the Rito gazed upon Link's naked form, he almost received a heatstroke from the furious blush on his cheek.

To say Link had become more attractive would be a big, big understatement. The former knight hardly grew in height, but he'd certainly gained more muscle, which gave him a toned look without being overbearing. Littered across Link's body, save for his face, were numerous battle scars - some looked fresh while most had faded, yet to Revali, not only did those scars have no ill effect on his lover's appearance whatsoever, but they also served as testaments to his courage and strength. As for the Hylian's body proportion, Revali could only sum up in one word: perfection.

Revali's chest feather puffed out. Standing in front of him was the mightiest, bravest and greatest hero, the one who single-handedly liberated the Divine Beasts, vanquished Calamity Ganon and restored peace to Hyrule, and who would've thought that very hero could willingly reveal his more vulnerable, intimate side to another person? Perhaps Revali was the only one to ever have this privilege.

The only one.

Determined to not have Link doing all the work, Revali too, went on to disrobe himself. Before long, his attire joined Link's on the floor as their owners engaged in a passionate game tongue-wrestling. Their naked forms ground against each other, adding even more heat to the already lust-filled air.

Reaching down, Revali wrapped his hand around both his and Link's fully erect cocks and gave them a slight squeeze, causing Link to gasp and shudder visibly. The gesture was a simple tease, but Revali was caught off guard by his lover's unexpected intense reaction.

"How can you be this sensitive? Link, don't tell me you haven't...after all these years?"

"You think I'd bed another person?" Link frowned.

"That's not what I meant! I was asking if you really haven't...relived yourself? You know...rub one out, once in a while?" Revali quickly clarified himself. To his surprise, whatever tension between him and Link instantly dispersed, replaced by awkwardness on the Hylian's part.

"Hylia above...it's true!" Revali muttered in amusement, relishing on the blush across Link's face, "You poor, poor pent up boy."

"Shut up!" Link huffed indignantly. He flashed Revali a cheeky grin, before crawling atop the Rito, "Since you're so sympathetic, how about letting me take charge tonight?"

"I'll let you do something even better." Revali chuckled, "Link, take me, claim my first time."

Link's blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight and locked with Revali's. Between their little space, Revali could hear his lover's rapid heartbeat, and the look of utter disbelief on his face, "Don't be surprised, Link. You've never asked for anything, but I can't keep taking from you without giving anything back. Would you grant me this desire?"

Warmth bubbled in Link's stomach all the way up to his throat, and it took a while before he could find his words again, "Are you sure about this? It may get uncomfortable if we do this without...aid"

"Absolutely!" Revali replied, slightly embarrassed by his impatience, then added sheepishly, "I...well, I had preparation. Remember the potion I gave you when we first did it? I"

"Eager, aren't we? Well, so am I." the Hylian said, a grin spread across his face. The excitement of taking his lover's virginity sent shivers down Link's spine, and the sight of Revali willingly spread his legs to expose his untouched tailhole made Link's already needy cock twitched in anticipation. There was no mistake that the Rito truly loved him, and would go to any lengths to prove it.

"Ready for this?" Link asked, bringing the tip of his erection to slightly prod Revali's entrance, but made no attempt at penetration. Only when met with a hasty nod of approval from the Rito that he began to push inside his lover.

"Oh heavens..." Link gasped as his length pierced through Revali's fleshy ring and made its way inside the Rito. His sense of pleasure, having gone numb over years, now exploded from the overwhelming stimulation of being surrounded and squeezed by Revali's inner muscles. Moreover, beyond the newfound pleasure of their physical union, Link felt elated from bonding with his lover with intimacy that they'd never experienced. Hadn't it been for the misery he'd suffered over a century; Link would definitely say this was worth the wait.

"Mmm, you look big, now I know you _are_big..." Revali murmured in response. The pain was much less than he'd expected it would be, partly thank to the potion he consumed earlier, but most of the pleasure actually came from the fact that he'd actively relinquished his first time to Link. An adventurer, Revali reveled in anything that made his feathers rumble with excitement, and something about laying beneath the person he'd once t left the Rito extremely thrilled, to say the least.

Link chuckled at the compliment, pulling his cock half way out before slamming it back in, causing Revali to squawk and squirm uncontrollably. The Hylian continued to thrust in and out, building up a steady rhythm as he felt himself sliding deeper into that warm tunnel, before his balls came to rest against Revali's rump. Hips moving in a blur, Link processed to pound his lover mercilessly, his cock urging, begging to be sheathed in the wonderful warmth and tightness of the Rito's depths.

Their union ablaze with passion, their movements wanton with lust, and neither showed signs of slowing down. Link's thrusts grew more forceful, yet there was still certain gentleness as the Hylian never completely succumbed to his instincts. Revali, on the other hand, didn't have such self-control. The Rito began to push himself downwards, desperate to have his lover's length deeper inside him, especially whenever Link's penis pressed against a particular spot within him. Was this the same ecstasy Link felt whenever they engaged in sexual contact? If so, Revali wouldn't mind spreading his legs for Link whenever the Hylian desired.

As Revali's inner button took more abuse, the Rito noticed Link picking up his pace, and realized he was getting close. The thought of being filled to the brim by his lover's essence almost sent Revali over the edge, but he managed to hold back. Still, Revali knew, he too, was seconds away from his impending orgasm, and from the look of it, he might even finish before Link did, which wasn't Revali's wanted outcome. To help them reach their climaxes together, the Rito began to pull a few tricks off his sleeve, speeding up his movements to meet Link's, all the while tightening his grip on the Hylian's cock, his innards clenching relentlessly around Link's pulsing meat pole.

The effects were immediate. Up to this point, the pleasure had been nothing short of otherworldly for Link, but the added stimulations now rendered it utterly unbearable, forcing the Hylian to surrender to his desire. Now without his self-control, Link amped up his speed and strength even more, pressing firmly and deeply against his lover as he plowed that deliciously tight hole to his heart's content. Every stroke knocked the air out of Revali, and he briefly wondered if he'd made the right decision fanning the flames like that, yet what little doubt and discomfort the Rito had rapidly morphed into a seemingly endless torrent of pleasure, and Revali wanted more. He wanted everything Link had to offer. He needed it. He _craved_for it.

And soon enough, he got it. A few more solid thrusts, and that was it for Link. The Hylian's movements came to a halt, his eyes screwed shut, his whole body trembled. Revali stiffened as the length inside him throbbed, before the first of many waves of warm, syrupy semen erupted into his depths. The viscous fluid splashed hotly against his stretched inner walls, each jet pushed the previous load even deeper into his bowels, washing over his battered prostate. Revali moaned breathlessly, the hot, overstuffed sensation of rich sperm rushing into him finally triggered his long overdue climax. Cum burst out from his painfully erect cock, splattering all over Link's and his abdomens, each spurt hitting Revali with a combination of orgasmic bliss and exhaustion.

Their orgasms seemed to last forever, and only ceased when both released days' worth of semen into and onto each other. Satisfied and completely spent, Link collapsed onto Revali as soon as he finished unloading inside his beloved Rito. It took a while before the two could muster enough strength to move again.

"How was it?" Revali inquired, smirking at the wonderful sight that was Link's lazy but utterly content expression.

"Incredible...No, too good for words." Link replied in short huffs as he gulped in mouthfuls of air, still feeling a bit light-headed.

"I see...well, you did empty yourself inside me, after all."

Link blushed at the lewd remark. Unable to retort, the Hylian could only wait until his embarrassment dispersed, before breaking the silence again, "Hey Revali, do you remember...what we planned to do after the war?"

"Of course I do." Revali said, memories flooding his mind, "We will get a new house. I remember asking you why, to which you explained that my roost was way too small for three."

"The look on your face at that time was priceless." Link added with a smile.

"But then we bickered to no end over our choices." Revali's chest rumbled with a soft laugh, "I wanted a Rito chick while you preferred a Hylian boy. In the end, we agreed to go for both."

"Revali...Do you know why I went out of my way to help Hudson build Tarrey Town, even finding him a suitor?"

The Rito didn't reply, instead began stroking his lover's hair comfortingly. He already got the gist of what Link was about to say.

"Hudson might've been way over his head, but when I saw how hard he tried, I couldn't help myself. People said it was the kindness and duty of a hero, but now that I think about it, I was merely using it as an excuse to fulfill my own fantasy. Pathetic, right?"

"Why?" Revali's voice became slightly stern as he spoke, "When it comes to helping others, no one cares whether or not your motivation is personal, as long as it is neither evil nor malicious. At the end of the day, don't you think what truly mattered is that you helped those people realize their dreams?"

"You're right, I was being a drama queen again." Link said, a warm smile spreading across his face, "But I have dreams too. Will you help me realize them?"

"I will." Revali replied definitively. He didn't make any promise this time, for once they had been broken, promises were nothing but hollow, meaningless words. The last time he broke a promise, Revali regretted it even in his death, so this time, his actions would speak for him. Regardless what awaited them, he had to live out his new life, and he had to cherish every second he spent with his lover.

His precious, wonderful, irreplaceable airheaded Hylian.

---

The end