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Since waking up, nothing more than a child in an adult’s body, Link has learned many things. He is at a point in his journey where he feels he should understand the way the world works now. He doesn’t. Standing atop the final Divine Beast on his list, having only just freed it from the Calamity's control, he finds that he understands his feelings as much as he understands where the wind comes from. Before him stands the proud Champion of the skies, the current source of Link’s inner turmoil.
“Your job is far from finished, you know?” The sound of his voice is more comforting than it has any right to be. Link finds that he doesn't want to let it go.
Tendrils of light start to lift Link’s body into the air. Panic begins to overwhelm him at the thought of having to leave. He has so many questions that need answers.
“WAIT!” he shouts, probably one of the loudest noises he’s made since waking in this new amnesiac body. The light dissipates and he’s deposited gently back on the smooth stone. Perhaps even the goddess has a heart.
“My, someone’s chatty today,” Revali answers, despite having only heard one word so far from the Hylian, as if he could hear the thoughts racing through the knight's head.
“I don’t remember anything,” Link says, “I don’t even remember why people seem to think I shouldn’t be able to speak. As far as I know, my voice works just fine. Maybe a side effect from the shrine’s healing? What I do remember is that you and I, we didn’t get along, right?”
“Some might say that, yes,” the spirit responds, hesitantly. His eyes have been focused on studying Link’s face, searching for any sign of deceit but he can’t think of any reason that the knight would lie about such a thing.
“Then why? Why does it hurt to think about leaving you right now? You’ve been nothing but rude to me this whole time and yet, none of the other Champions made me feel like this.” Tears begin to collect around the corners of Link’s eyes but he refuses to let them fall. Everything is just so confusing now and his memories never seem to match up with his feelings anymore.
“It’s possible that you and I might have been something more, in another time. Had we not fallen to the Calamity I hoped we might… Mipha had not yet proposed so I thought I might still have a chance. But, no, we never spoke about it. You just took to annoying me while I was training, even more persistently in the days leading up to our final battles.” Revali turned away, choosing instead to stare at the slowly setting sun in the distance as if having his back to the crying boy would ease the pain swelling inside him.
“I see,” the Not-so-silent knight replies. He’s reeling from the implications of it all. In his heart Link knows that he loves the Rito in front of him, but nothing in his brain suggests that any of it is true. He just needs more time to think. “This doesn’t have to be goodbye, right? Can I come to see you again after? Maybe I can find a way to save you. To save all of you.” It all spills out in a rush like he can't talk fast enough.
“As much as I want to believe that you can change our circumstances, we both know there’s nothing that can be done. My time here, with you, it’s limited. We can sit and stretch it out as long as possible but would you truly be ok with leaving so many people waiting for their salvation? We both fought to protect this land and the man I learned to love would never leave others to fend for themselves just to satisfy his own desires. I won’t say you’re selfish for wanting to enjoy this moment,” a broken sob cuts through the air. Turning to face the Hylian in surprise, Revali is once again reminded of the differences between this Link and the one he knew many years ago. The old Link would never have cried out loud.
“I want nothing more than to be with you just a little while longer,” he continued, “but I’d hate to be the cause of any of your regrets. Please, I can’t bear to see your sad expression any longer. You must go.” The blue of Revali’s spirit begins to fade away and Link feels himself be scooped up by the goddess’s magic once more.
He feels the same panic squeeze around his heart and he wants to scream and beg and cry. He wants just one second more but learns that sound doesn’t travel when you’re teleporting.