|| Previous Chapter ||

Chapter Five

Hyrule Castle was bustling. No doubt it was preparing for the princess and Link to journey to Mt. Lanayru. I had not been the first to arrive at Hyrule Castle this time — that honor had gone to Daruk, who had quickly informed me that we would be accompanying the princess to the mountain. 

“Is all of this necessary?” I asked the Goron, a little annoyed.

“I guess so. We’re supposed to escort the princess to the base of the mountain at dawn and then be there to meet her when she returns at sunset,” Daruk said, rubbing his rocky beard.

I sighed; must I participate in this nonsense? Though, the look on Princess Zelda’s face had never left my mind on the day that she had asked me to be the Champion for the Rito. When she had asked about piloting Vah Medoh she seemed determined, but also desperate. In my time previously spent in Hyrule Castle I had learned of Zelda’s sacred duties and her dormant power that had not yet awakened. She had spent so much time as a child training, praying to Hylia, and going through the cycle again and again. After all this time she had nothing to show for it. Even she was aware that she was unable to fulfill the sacred duties that had been passed down to her. Everyone knew. Anyone who knew the princess could see how heavily it weighed on her. The castle staff whispered constantly. I found it rather annoying, after all, it was royalty they were gossiping about. 

I did find it extremely difficult to comprehend the troubles of the talentless, but I was trying. The more I had gotten to know of the princess’ struggles and the longer I found myself in the castle, the more I tried to understand her plight. It’s not that I didn’t like the princess — I did, In fact I admired her ferocity and determination; she tried her hardest. It just simply wasn’t not good enough. If I were in a place where I could’ve told her what to do, I would. Although I’m unsure my words would’ve helped facilitate any progress. I knew I couldn’t spare much time to see her off in the morning, but I thought perhaps I’d fly over and greet her upon her return at sunset. Maybe that sacred sealing power would show her some mercy and reveal itself this time.

Despite my best efforts to remain at the Castle until sunset, I ventured off with the other Champions and accompanied Link and Zelda to the base of the path of Mt. Lanayru. Link and Zelda journeyed on without us and I was left to mingle with the other Champions. Urbosa took a seat on a boulder, while Mipha sat close by under the shade of a large tree. Daruk meandered along the path muttering to himself. We all kept to ourselves for the most part until Urbosa spoke aloud, “I hope Hylia hears her prayers this time.”

“I pray that the Goddess is receptive…” Mipha said, clutching her spear in her lap. 

“I wonder if they have made it to the base of the mountain by now?” Daruk wondered aloud.

I created an updraft with my gale and took to the skies. I flapped my wings ferociously, trying to gain as much height as I could. I pinpointed two tiny figures from a distance. Link was leading Zelda up the snowy cliffs of Mount Lanayru. He had extended his hand to help her through a snow drift. He looked worried; maybe he did know how to show some kind of emotion. I drifted down and adjusted my feathers. “They are making their ascent up the mountain. I imagine that it won’t be long until they reach the top. The poor girl must be freezing.” 

“Revali, that was amazing!” Daruk exclaimed. “The way you shot upward like that. I’ve never seen a Rito do anything like that before!”

“Why thank you,” I said with a bow of my head. “It is a skill of my own creation, I call it Revali’s Gale.” 

The display of my skills certainly riled the other Champions up. Over the next few hours we discussed our unique skills and even showed off a little bit. The sun moved across the sky a lot faster now that we had something to pass the time. We had retreated to the Lanayru Promenade when we noticed that Link and Zelda had returned from their mission on the mountain. 

Daruk immediately began asking questions and I watched as Zelda shook her head in dismay. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. She had failed. 

“So you didn’t feel anything?” I asked in disbelief. “No power at all?” 

“I’m sorry, no,” Zelda replied, clasping her hands together.

At her reply Urbosa suggested that we move on from this place. She was right, there was no need for us to linger here any longer. As the others spoke and tried to share words of encouragement, the ground began to shake and tremor violently. I shot upward into the sky again and looked out over the horizon. I was in complete shock and awe at what I saw: a malicious black and fuchsia haze swirled around Hyrule Castle. Lightning struck around Castle Town and dark clouds began to flood the sky. The evil swirled and roared loudly as the malice descended upon the castle. I knew it would happen eventually, but I didn’t want it to believe that it would happen so soon. It was time to put all of my training to the test. 

“It’s here,” I said upon my descent. I saw a look of panic and fear in Princess Zelda’s eyes. Daruk gave a speech about how we would need to aid Link as he faced Calamity Ganon head on. I couldn’t help but cast a sideways glance of disgust at the knight, but I knew that the Goron was right. It was time to aid Link, it was time to fight.

I flew back to Rito Village as fast as my wings could take me. The village Elder was directing my people to safety as I arrived. “Master Revali we are all counting on you!” the Elder called as he helped a mother and child through the crowd. Vah Medoh called loudly and I flew upward to greet the Divine Beast. Medoh screeched again upon my entrance and I began to pilot the beast towards Hyrule Castle. Upon laying my wing upon the panel something felt off. The warmth of the control panel had begun to fade. 

“Medoh?” I asked, staring into the belly of the beast. The beast called again; it’s call sounded more like a pained cry. I pressed my wing harder into the control panel, but the warmth had faded from the panel. Vah Medoh’s pained cries rang through again… and then it appeared. 

The malice swirled around the beast’s heart and took form into an inky, malicious black monster. The malice screeched in anger and took aim at me with one of its arms. I rolled out of the way and took aim with one of my arrows. I shot the monster in its glowing blue eye and it screeched in agony. I took to the sky with my gale and took aim again. I loosed another arrow and hit my target dead in the eye again. The monster screeched and then unleashed a whirlwind of its own. I was taken off guard and faltered in my flight pattern while trying to launch another arrow. In the time it had taken me to regain flight, the demon of malice had taken aim and shot one of my wings with the canon on its arm. I fell to the floor of Medoh, but shot back up into the air defiantly. I was not done! Medoh screeched in pain again. Could the Divine Beast feel my pain? I loosed another arrow at the malice beast and hit my target but I had missed the center of the eye. 

“Not good enough!” I cried as I loosed a barrage of arrows at the demon. The demon seemed to cackle as it shot more and more blasts at me. I flew out of the way, but a final blast clipped my talon as I flew away. I was getting tired and careless. I began to think about Link fighting harder than I was. My pride swelled up as I took to the air weakly again. I shot another arrow and missed again. If I was failing against this foe inside Medoh, who knew what Link and the princess were up against? I took aim once more and so did the calamitous beast; if this would be my final shot then I was going to make it count. I closed one eye and took aim. I could see the arrow piercing its target. I could see a bright flash of blue move closer and closer to my heart. I could hear Vah Medoh’s piercing cries once more. My aim was indeed true, and then the sky I loved faded to black.


My untimely death was one of great sadness for the Rito. A flight deck was named in my honor and young fledglings began to train at the Flight Range in hopes of becoming the next Revali. I knew that no one would ever hold a candle to my greatness, but still, I was honored.  After the events of my death, Vah Medoh took to circling Rito Village, but it was a cause of great strife for everyone. My spirit has been locked in the belly of the beast for the last one hundred years. Calamity Ganon’s Malice had corrupted the great Divine Beast and resulted in my early demise. It was tragic, but even I had hope. But my hope had fallen on unexpected shoulders.

“Well now, I’ve seen that face before… I had a feeling you would show up eventually. But making me wait a hundred years is a bit … indulgent. You’re here to wrest control of Medoh away from Ganon, correct?” Link’s arrival was a bit unexpected, but even then, he was the hero. He had to show up eventually. The knight looked like he had not aged a day in the last one hundred years. He still stood emotionless, but I guided him through Vah Medoh none-the-less. 

Upon Link’s final terminal activation, I lead him to the heart of Medoh. Medoh’s heart glowed a bright orange, and I knew that the Malice had welled up inside once again. The beast emerged in the same inky blackness that I had remembered from one hundred years ago. It made me sick. “Good Luck! That thing is one of Ganon’s own, and it plays dirty! It defeated me one hundred years ago… but only because I was winging it. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this… But you must avenge me, Link!”

My spirit watched from the bowels of Medoh as Link fought Ganon’s creature with the Sword that Seals the Darkness. The beast tried shooting at Link, but the knight dodged expertly. As I watched Link fight, I began to think that I had misjudged him some. He was a great warrior. The two fought back and forth for some time until the beast decided to change tactics and take a more aggressive approach; Link was ready though. He adjusted his sword and shield and continued head on. It was only a matter of time until Link was victorious. Ganon’s creature exploded into the malice-goo that once had filled Medoh and I finally felt liberated. Vah Medoh cried out in happiness for the  first time in one hundred years. 

“Well, I’ll be plucked… You defeated him, eh? Who would’ve thought? Well done. I suppose I should thank you now that my spirit is free. This returns Medoh back to its rightful owner!” I began to approach Link with my newly liberated spirit body. “Don’t preen yourself just for doing your job. I do suppose you’ve proven your value as a warrior.”

After all this time I had been wrong about Link, and I was not too prideful to admit that. “A warrior worthy of my unique ability. A sacred skill that I have dubbed Revali’s Gale!” I had thought long and hard on my decision to pass my skills down to someone, and Link is the only one I could ever deem worthy of such an honor. I only hoped that he would use it well. I watched as the winds surrounded him and lifted him upwards. He was a mighty warrior, and I would never tell him, but I was thankful for being liberated.

I sighed, “It’s now time to move on and start making preparations for Medoh’s strike on Ganon. But only if you think you’ll still need my help while you’re fighting inside Hyrule Castle. Free feel to thank me now.” I waited for him to speak, but then changed my mind, “ Oh… never mind, just go. Your job is far from finished, you know. The princess has been waiting an awful long time.” 

I turned my back on the knight as he disappeared from Medoh in a glistening light. With Link gone, I took my position as Champion of the Rito and piloted Vah Medoh above Rito Village. I landed upon the rocky cliffs that towered over the village and took aim at Hyrule Castle. When the time was right, Vah Medoh and I would strike with precise aim. 

“Medoh’s sights are now set. You’ll have a precise bead on Ganon from this vantage point. And when the time is right, give him everything you’ve got. Now we wait for that perfect moment…” I stood on the outside of the beast and gazed out at the Hyrulean sky. “Medoh, we’ve been artfully patient for the last one hundred years. I doubt you’ll suffer a feather over a few more moments.”

I sighed, ”After all these years, I simply must admit the truth… Even without the power of flight, Link made his way to this Divine Beast… And accomplished something that even I could not… Guess I was wrong about… how lucky he would be. I hope that luck holds out, Link… For everyone’s sake.” 

I had always seen Link as my rival; someone I could compete against for as long as I lived. After all of these events, I can no longer see him as someone I can compete against. He was not better than me, but I could finally put away my pride and truly call him a friend. Link, my friend, my equal.

 

Featured image: Heather Beard.

Heather Beard is a writer for Zelda Dungeon. She’s a (crazy) cat lady with a passion for Zelda lore, and really cheesy pizza. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and Twitter!

Tagged With: No tags were found for this entry.