Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Daruk

A few moments into the fight he knew he couldn't fight this alone, tapping the SOS into his divine beast communication signal he fought.
He stayed consistent sending out the signal, as others signals joined his he knew there was no help on the way, that they'd likely lost, that their last hope was Link and the princess.
He stayed consistent with his signal, not because he expected help, but because he wanted the others to know he was alive and okay… When Revali's panicked SOS came through he felt fear- Revali was the last to signal, and some part of him hoped that it was because he didn't need help- but the frantic message made his heart break and when mipha's signal went from SOS to SAD (search and Destroy) he felt hopeless, and soon tried to flee inside the beast, hoping to gain a moment to heal, to figure out a way to help them- they are kids God damn it!
He couldn't hide long. He died, praying that Link could at least save the princess.

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Urbosa

Her SOS signal was quick to join Daruk's, solid and consistent, knowing that no help would come the moment she sent out the signal, she had resigned herself to a battle in hopes that she would destroy it as it destroyed her, so that they may at least have Naboris to aid her little bird and the knight.
When Revali's panicked SOS signal came in her heart stuttered, but her fighting was a constant battle of awareness and she couldn't afford to dwell on the thought of Revali, panicked, a scared kid… when Mipha's signal changed, at first she had hope- but then it was shot down by the voice of the calamity speaking through the divine beasts… SAD (SEARCH AND DESTROY). She died hoping, praying, Zelda would be okay.

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Mipha

She couldn't win this, not even minutes into the fight and she tapped her SOS signal, frantic, pleading, praying, that somewhere there were people to help them, back them up. She spent most of her time trying to find a moment to get a hit in and healing her own wounds. When the others sent their signals she panicked, jumping in and out of water dodging what felt like, someone trying to spearfish her, ice flying at her, piercing her body. When Revali sent his signal she made a mistake, she froze, this mistake was just long enough for her to be stabbed through, she didnt die then. She died fleeing, trying to leave Ruta, to save herself, her brother, her friends, her kingdom, the future and the world. Her last thoughts were “please keep them safe Hylia”

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Revali

When he got to Vah Medoh the others had already sent their SOS message, it was dark and raining, all his bomb arrows were wet and useless, he could barely see the floor beneath him, let alone the enemy in front of him. He tried firing arrows at the spots where attacks were coming from but it was constantly changing and the wind threw his arrows off course despite his best efforts. After a few moments his wing is hit and he's grounded, he sends his SOS signal, the first one normal, reluctant almost, but as windblight attacks from every direction, he tries to flee, but he can't see it- how do you flee from something you can't see? It keeps shooting, he gets frantic. Sending sos signals, praying someone will help- when he's met with no response but the beeping of sos signals being returned he tries to fight again. Arrows flying, bullets of light returning, he hears a shriek of pain, he's turning the tides, somewhat, there's a pause in attacks that he uses to get some hits in, but it fights back. He sending arrows in nearly every direction and hes running out, when, he hears Mipha's signal change, and in a moment of, what he'll later call, “an idiotic mistake” he freezes. He's shot in shoulder as fear takes him over- Ganon has taken control of the divine beast- oh no no no no I dont want to die I dont want to die I don't want to die- he's hyperventilating, he can't see, its like a horror story, as he can hear his friends get picked off one by one, Mipha, Daruk, Urbosa, each one of their signals being taken over by Malice, Search And Destroy, and eventually, just Destroy. Unlike the others when he dies he does not think of the war, he thinks of his adoptive Father, whom he so desperately, wishes he could hug, let his father take away his pain, he wishes for the love shown by the other champions, he prays that they do not die because of his failure.

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Link

Link can hear the sos signals, he knows they've lost, and when he falls protecting Zelda, he hopes they will not think badly of him for failing.

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Zelda

Zelda heard the signals, she knows that she is the reason all her friends are dead, and when she holds Ganon back for 100 years, she can still hear the sos signals repeating every time she reaches out to there souls. She prays that 100 years of pain will repent for her sins.

Chapter Text

The 6 champions reunited in spirit through the will of Hylia sat in a rather tidy room, mostly plain with nothing but seats, an empty stage and a pause button.

Having been told by the goddess that she wishes to show them something important so that their souls may recover and heal, and that they may bond, they all sat in these seats, almost numb, confused, anxious, and rather quiet.

The first vision came up, it was Daruk, but you could hear his thoughts.

“Oh hey its me!” Daruk smiles

“How curious, is this real?” Mipha asks.

“Well…. I think its magic- a memory maybe?” Zelda thinks aloud.

“Looks the same as my flashbacks.” Link signs

“Huh.” Says Revali

They go quiet and let the scene play. They quickly go blank and pause the scene the moment they realize its a memory of his fight, his death.

They sit quietly for a moment before Zelda whispers “I'm so sorry,” to Daruk “I'm so sorry sorry.” Her voice wobbles.

“Princess, we knew that we were getting into fighting big old Ganon, there wasn't anything any of us could have done.” Daruk says, his voice still surprisingly positive after everything.

“My little bird, you did everything you could, you're not to blame for our deaths”

“Still I- … I should've done something- i… I wish it was different”

“We all stood beside you knowing the risks, we will stand beside you after the worst, even in death you have our spirits with you” Mipha reassures.

“Thank you, all of you” Zelda wipes her eyes and looks at everyone, before unpacking the scene.

“A few moments into the fight he knew he couldn't fight this alone, tapping the SOS into his divine beast communication signal he fought.”

They watch Daruk tap out the sos signal for the first time, watch as he sweats and fights hard, but more importantly they hear as he admits in that very first moment that he will lose.

The room is quiet, what can you say in the face of mortality? In the face of being so overwhelmed and overpowered that your death is assured?

“He stayed consistent sending out the signal, as others signals joined his he knew there was no help on the way, that they'd likely lost, that their last hope was Link and the princess”

When they hear him realize there is no help on the way they all wince, Link and Zelda look away.

They hear him think to himself “I'll keep sending the sos signals- so at least they'll know when I go down”

“Goddess- that's why you did that?” Revali sounds a bit sick

“I thought knowing that I was still alive would help, and that knowing when I lost would… im not sure… it… it felt important” Daruk trails off, he's unsure what to say, faced with all these emotions, he feels uncomfortable telling these kids, these kids who went through the same thing.

Everyone is quiet, unsure how to respond.

“When Revali's panicked SOS came through he felt fear- Revali was the last to signal, and some part of him hoped that it was because he didn't need help- but the frantic message made his heart break”

When they see his reaction to Revali's sos, Revali goes blank. Urbosa looks at Daruk in sympathy.

“when mipha's signal went from SOS to SAD (search and Destroy) he felt hopeless”

When Mipha hears about the change in signal she has to leave the room to go throw up, Zelda follows her to help. They come back out in a few minutes, Mipha and Zelda both clearly had been crying, but no one dares to point it out, not when they themselves are not so far off.

“and soon tried to flee inside the beast, hoping to gain a moment to heal, to figure out a way to help them- they are kids God damn it!”

The room is silent as they watch Daruk panic, trying to flee, hide, try to save the others.

“He couldn't hide long. He died, praying that Link could at least save the princess.”

When it ends Link leaves the room and Zelda breaks down sobbing, Daruk simply holds her as he tries to process any of this.

Revali follows Link, and is surprised to see him openly sobbing on the floor.

Revali sits down next to him and Link wastes no time in pulling him into an embrace, something so foreign to the both of them that they dont know how to react, Revali stares at him as he returns the hug.

“Youre so different now” Revali whispers

“I,” Link coughs, his throat torn and aching but he speaks anyway, “I want to be happy not a knight.”

Revali is quiet for a moment before saying “and this hug makes you happy?”

Link nods and Revali is quiet, he puts his wings around him.

“It makes me happy too” he admits

They sit in each other's presence for a long while until they've both calmed down.

“why… why were you crying?” Revali asks carefully.

“.... its my fault you all died”

Revali huffs “between you and Zelda the pity party is far too arrogant,”

Link blinks, taken aback

“Neither of you could have done anything, stop acting so self important by pretending you could've what? What would you have even done? You couldn't help all of us fight, nor could you have taken on Ganon because Zelda didn't yet unlock her powers. There was nothing any one of us could have done. We lost. We lost that fight, and eventually we won the war, thanks to the both of you, so stop being so self centered” Revali huffs.

Link pauses for a moment before letting out a wet laugh.

“Thanks” he whispers to Revali

Revali just nods, letting Link relax in his wing.

After a couple of minutes Mipha walks in, Revali just makes an awkward gesture to Link, now fast asleep on top of him, and she smiles and nods.

“I'll tell them we're taking a break”

Revali nods and Mipha turns to walk away before pausing.

“This looks good on you” she whispers quietly

“What does?”

“Love” she exits the room leaving Revali in the quiet room, the only sounds the breathing of the two boys.