Chapter Text
Link’s house was much too small for all of them to sleep in, but the other Champions appreciated his effort to keep their resurrections low-key for a few days. Instead, they went camping on Satori Hill; it was relatively close to a village if they felt the need to go get something, but far away enough from civilization that they could avoid being spotted and crowded.
Unlike all the other times he’d camped in the wild, this time Link built tents. “According to the Sheikah Slate, it might rain,” he said when Mipha asked about the need for it. “No lightning thankfully, but possibly a short downpour.”
“Do you need help, little guy?” Daruk asked. “I can’t speak for the others but I’m happy to help.”
He shook his head, pulling the hair tie out of his hair to redo it. “Not with the tents, but I could use help with a fire… I don’t really have a weapon suited for that.”
“Where’s the sword that seals the darkness?” Zelda asked, eyebrow quirked.
The sigh he heaved made him seem another hundred years older. “It’s not suited for menial things like that, and… Watch,” he switched out his weapons. As soon as the Master Sword was sheathed on his back, a dark shadow fell over Link and his eyes dulled.
Revali
knew
he hated that sword for a reason; Rito were surprisingly sensitive to magic. This particular kind made his feathers stand on edge, though, and dread settled in his stomach looking at the Link of his hundred-year-old memories. He was no longer the Link that had awoken in the Shrine of Resurrection.
Mipha’s eyes were sad, as if she had a knowledge of this involuntary transformation. Daruk and Urbosa were shocked. Zelda’s guilt carried in her voice. “I see your point; you can switch it out now. I’m sorry, I didn’t - ”
“...Realize?” Link’s voice was slurred as he came out of the trance the Sword put him in. “Not many people do; that’s why I don’t typically use it. I don’t like being smothered like that; the more I use it, the more overpowering it becomes. Lately it’s gotten to where I can barely talk while it’s on my back.”
Revali flinched.
Oh
no
.
After a few minutes, everyone went back to their tasks, and the tension from seeing the overpowering magic of the Master Sword drifted into the air like fallen leaves blown by the wind.
The stars were so visible above Satori Hill, they provided plenty of light alongside the fire. Taking first watch while the others slept, Link felt that it was a positive sign of the life to come once the world knew they were all alive. For some reason, his eyes stung as he really saw the world around him. Nothing about defeating Calamity Ganon looked how he thought it would. He certainly didn’t expect Zelda and the others to be alive . He was sure - so sure - that he would have to face this new world without anyone he remembered from his first life. Link had fully believed that it would just be him roaming the wilds, killing the last of the monsters and malice, until he grew old and died in a forest. While Korok Forest wouldn’t be a bad place to die… The life in front of him - with people he loved enough to call his friends - was so much better. He brought his fingers to his cheeks, finding them to be wet with his tears.
When had
that
happened? When had he started crying and why couldn’t he stop?
Emotions flooded through him so heavily that he was paralyzed. Despite his best effort to move away from the camp so the others wouldn’t be disturbed, his body wouldn’t cooperate. Link pulled the Snowquill Tunic out of his bag, burying his face in it to muffle his sobs. He just hoped it would be enough; the utter humiliation of being caught like this by
Revali
or
Zelda
… He’d never be able to live it down. Mipha was a longtime friend; he thought she’d probably seen him cry before. Urbosa and Daruk were both extremely paternal, so they probably wouldn’t judge either. But Revali? Zelda? He couldn’t handle the scolding looks, or potentially harsh comments, that would come. Sure, he’d tried to open up to Zelda on their journey to different shrines (which he only remembered thanks to her diary), but she was still royalty and it wouldn’t do for her to happen upon him being so… Lacking in decorum. Revali would probably just click his beak, making some snarky comment about the weakness of Hylians and their emotional volatility.
That made Link’s heart ache. He longed to remember
why
there was so much tension between them a hundred years ago - but nothing would unloose. He’d circled Rito Village dozens of times over and even
read Revali’s diary
, for Hylia’s sake, and yet these memories - like many others - were locked to him despite his best efforts.
He didn’t notice the footsteps behind him, or the taloned feet that twitched just a few inches from his own.
Once Revali had
that
nightmare - a memory, really - there was no going back to sleep. He stepped outside the tent to look at the stars when a flash of Champion’s Blue just beyond the fire caught his eyes. His original plan had been to look at the stars and offer to take the next watch, but sympathy pulled him toward the Hylian Champion. His heart dropped when he saw Link sitting curled on himself, face buried in Rito-crafted garb, trying to muffle his sobs.
He really should get Mipha, but she was in a deep sleep. Where did he even
begin
with this? Revali was many things, but a loving shoulder to cry on hadn’t been one of them in his previous life. But he could change that now - at least, he hoped so. What if he was rejected, or what if Link whacked him with a weapon?
Instinct overtook Revali’s anxious thoughts; he put a wing around Link’s shoulders and pulled him close. Definitely not something he would’ve done in their previous lives but… Things were different now. Link didn’t respond, still lost in whatever he was feeling. Revali unconsciously rubbed Link’s arm as he looked at the sky, trying to give him both privacy and some small measure of comfort. It took quite some time for the Hylian to settle, although tears still ran down his face.
Revali startled when he felt Link press gently into his side. “You’re all right,” he muttered, returning the pressure, “Sorry. Got lost in thought.”
“No scathing commentary?” Link asked with a hoarse voice. “That’s not like you.”
“I’ve changed,” Revali shrugged. “Did you want to talk about it?”
Link nodded against him. “I was positive that I would be facing the post-Calamity world alone, just having a boring routine in Hateno day in and day out. No more adventure, no more roaming the Wild… Then all of you fell out of the sky, just like that, and I was so relieved . Even if life is boring now, I won’t be alone. I mean, I wasn’t entirely alone thanks to all of you giving me your gifts of spirit, but this is different,” he gestured vaguely to the camp and pulled away so he could look into those green eyes. “It’s nice to not be alone.”
“It really is.”
Despite Link eventually falling asleep against him, Revali couldn’t do the same. He was too excited, yet also too at peace to move the exhausted knight.
By the time Urbosa stepped out of her tent to greet the rising sun, Link’s head had fallen into Revali’s lap. She smiled at the sight before sitting on his other side, a hand on his shoulder. No words needed to be spoken; she’d known how they felt about each other since the beginning. Daruk came out next, sitting on the other side of Link and putting a blanket on top of him. Mipha and Zelda were last, but came together holding hands. The Zora princess grinned at the sight, and Zelda grabbed her Sheikah Slate to take a picture.
“Welcome home, all of you. It’s a brand new world out there.”
Every Champion was smiling - even Link, whose eyes were open as he beamed for the camera.