The flight back home had been peaceful and Link rather enjoyed it. This time he was actually awake to see Hyrule from a rito's point of view.

Link loved nature. He loved Hyrule's beautiful nature. He loved the green grassy hills, the flower patches, the large forests. He loved the lakes that could stretch for miles. He loved the mountains that made you feel as if you were on top of the world. He loved the many natural foods. He loved the animals. He loved the horses and dogs and birds.

Especially the birds

Link had long ago accepted the fact that he held secret feelings for the Rito Champion, Revali. He didn't know what it was about Revali that drew Link in and, to be perfectly honest, Link didn't care.

He had to admit, he was somewhat shocked that the Rito Champion had so suddenly invited him to a rather nice mini-vacation out to the Rito Village. Link partially believed it was because the rito were proud folk, they loved their village and wanted everyone to know it. Another, smaller and quieter part of him believed- hoped- it was because maybe Revali wanted to spend a bit of alone time with Link.

Link shook the thought out of his head when he realized where he was.

"-and since you're her appointed knight I suppose tonight you're eating with her and the king." Revali spoke with a sigh as he walked with Link into the castle. Crap. He had forgotten that the Champions were eating a different time tonight.

The Hylian nodded, mentally praising himself for playing it cool and not letting Revali know he only paid attention to the last half of his sentence.

"I suppose I'll see you another time then." Revali slowed his walk down as they approached the hallway that lead to the Dining Hall. Link nodded hesitantly, standing awkwardly. He didn't know what to do in this situation. He had just spent most of his free day and night with the Champion he had hopeless feelings for and he isn't sure whether it's appropriate to hug him or not. They just didn't teach Link these things in knight school. "I'll admit, I had a lot of fun with you this past day." Revali adjusted his scarf and looked to the side. "Even if your archery skills are sloppy and you snore rather loudly in your sleep." Link snorted.

"I had fun with you too, Revali." Link took a step closer to the rito and placed a hand on his feathery shoulder, smiling widely with big blue beautiful eyes. "I'll definitely see you soon." With that, Link turned around and began walking to Zelda's study, a warm blush on his cheeks.

-

Dinner was tense and Link hated it. He stood behind Zelda's chair as she ate silently, stabbing her fork into the poor food. Her father, the King, was reminding her of her royal duties to Hyrule. She must access her sealing powers, she must train harder, she must pray harder, she must. Meanwhile Impa, who had joined dinner without an invite, continued to remind the King that Zelda was just a child. Zelda was trying her best. Zelda has no control when her powers would awaken. Zelda was doing everything in her power to protect the kingdom. Eventually, the King stopped questioning and pressuring his daughter and returned his attention to his food. The Sheikah leader smirked victoriously, winked at the Princess of Hyrule and swished the wine in her wine glass.

Impa was very well respected by the King. The Sheikah Clan was rumored to be a literal gift from the Goddess, fierce warriors and very knowledgeable scientists. They've protected the royal family for generations and have recorded Hyrule's history. Impa knew all this, and she also knew that the King wouldn't want to accidentally cause any sort of friction that would end in the Sheikah reclaiming all they've done to help in the fight against the Calamity. So, when Impa spoke and said things that no ordinary person would even dream to tell the King, he kept his cool and let it slide.

"Link." The King's voice broke the awkward silence. He didn't even bother to look up from his gourmet meal before continuing. "I heard that you and the the Rito Champion- Revali is it?- took advantage of Impa's...stubbornness and visited the Rito Village." Link could feel his ears beginning to burn. "He's quite the remarkable archer isn't he? Quite the archer..." Link kept his eyes forward and face still.

"Link is an amazing archer as well." Impa commented. Her eyes flickered to Zelda for a second, a devilish smile spreading. "As is the Princess." Zelda's fork clattered loudly against her plate, she sat perfectly still with her hand still halfway to her mouth. Although Link couldn't see her face he knew that the Princess' green eyes were wide open and staring blankly in front of her. Her skin had surely gone a few shades paler and her mouth most definitely hung wide open from shock.

"What?" The King glared over at his daughter and Impa put a hand up, immediately stopping whatever thought he was having.

"Before you begin your lecture allow me to explain." Impa stood up and placed both hands on the still-shocked Princess' shoulders. "You know as much as I do that princesses in the past have fought vigorously to secure the safety of their home. You yourself were forced to read the ancient texts before you were even allowed to marry her majesty the Queen."

"I don't see what that has anything to do with this." The King glared daggers at Impa. Impa smiled slightly and continued.

"The Princess of the Era of the Hero of Time. She held a powerful tool- instrument- in her hands. She entrusted it to the hero. When it was time for the next half of the hero's journey she did not sit around and wait. She disguised herself as a member of the Sheikah Clan and continued her fight for peace. The Princess of the Era of the Hero of Twilight. When a closed seemingly evil, dark world that was closed off for years reopened and invaded her home she stood proudly by her soldiers with a sword in her hand. When the Princess of the Twilight laid dying in front of her, she gave her life for her. When it came time to fight off the cursed evil that was Ganondorf, she fought right alongside the hero and shot that vile villain with the bow of light. That very bow has been passed down for generations to every single princess Hyrule has known. They have archery in their blood, they have the wisdom of the Goddess Nayru in their minds, they have the spirit of Hylia."

"Get to the point, Impa."

"Gladly." Impa gave Zelda's shoulders a tight squeeze. "I allowed Zelda to wield the bow of light. With her touch the holy weapon glowed and changed its form. It recognized her as its next owner. Her first shot was near perfect. I'm sure with the help of the Rito Champion she can have archery mastered in-"

"No." The King stood up abruptly. "No archery. No guardians. No more playing scholar or solider!"

Impa studied the man's face and nodded hesitantly. She tapped Zelda's shoulder and the hylian Princess immediately stood up and hurried out the door. Link followed closely. The last thing he heard before he had to begin chasing Zelda down the castle's long halls was Impa tell the King that Zelda's late mother would be very disappointed and saddened by this decision.

-

The night's earlier events left a bitter taste on Link's tongue. He hated having to have witnessed such a heated argument, having to have witnessed the King be wrong and still grasp for some kind of power over the Sheikah leader.

Link sighed and rubbed his temple. He was just glad Impa took pity on him and sent him away for the night.

A hearty laugh echoed down the dimly lit hallway. Link glanced up to see a couple of soldiers standing outside a closed door. The knight stood there for a moment, just staring at the door. He was considering going back to his own room, he was tired and just wanted to put that night's events behind him, but the loud laugh had some sort of gravitational pull and the next thing Link knew he was walking straight towards the closed doors. The two soldiers guarding the closed room didn't even blink an eye as Link opened up the door and walked in.

The atmosphere was significantly different from the one at dinner. It was comfortable and welcoming, the warmth of light of the fire place only added onto that heavenly feeling. Link instantly felt as if all previous worry had melted away, his fatigue had miraculously gone away and a smile plastered itself on his face. Urbosa and Daruk sat comfortably, talking and enjoying each other's company. Urbosa noticed Link standing silently near the door and beckoned him over.

"Ah there's the little guy!" Daruk smiled as Link pulled a nearby chair over. "It's been a while! I heard the Princess has been working you day and night!" Link smiled and shrugged. "Gee, I hope she doesn't go too hard on you! You may be the hero of legend but you're still so tiny." Link smiled again. He liked Daruk. He liked how the Goron would worry over him constantly, afraid that Link would hurt himself because he was "small". It felt nice to have someone worry about him.

His mind flickered to Revali for a moment.

Right. He now had two someones worrying for him. One being a Rito that was probably way out of Link's league.

"He'll be fine." Urbosa hummed as she got into a more comfortable position. "I've trained with the boy, the Sheikah leader put us in a sort of...duel against one another." The Gerudo Chief smirked. "I must say, I am quite impressed. He was able to beat me." Daruk grinned widely and patted Link's shoulder (gently) with a ginormous hand. "I'm sure with him on our side and those Divine Beasts, the Calamity Ganon will stand no chance."

Link liked Urbosa. The strong Gerudo woman was a force to be reckoned with. She was powerful and loved among her people. She kept the Yiga Clan at bay and just had a sort of...motherly air around her. When times were tough and Link or the other Champions felt as if they couldn't take another step, Urbosa was there to raise them back up. Link liked that about her, she reminded him much of his mother.

"How was dinner?" Urbosa already knew the answer but seeing Link wince only confirmed it. She sighed and crossed her arms. "I knew it. He can't leave the poor girl alone. If her mother was here..." Urbosa trailed off and looked at the fire. "Our Princess is strong. Her powers will awaken in time, for now she will work hard whether it be by following the King's silly training or researching the ancient technology we are all relying on."

Silence fell between the three of them. Link stared at his feet. He had started his day off so wonderfully. Breakfast and the cool air of the Rito Village. A beautiful sunrise, the lovely view of a green forest next to a snow white one. A rather entertaining archery lesson by the master himself and then getting to spend a few hours pressed up against the Rito and happily enjoying the sights. Hylia how he wished he could just go back to that.

"So how was your day with Revali." It was as if Daruk read Link's mind.

Link chuckled nervously and, out of sheer panic, nodded slowly in response. He didn't know why he felt so nervous, it wasn't like something had happened. Nothing had happened.

"I must admit it was a surprise." There was a hint of a smirk in Urbosa's voice. Link decided not to look at her, he knew his ears would go red if he did. "Seeing you ride on his back and being flown off..." Daruk laughed. "I don't believe he would ever even think to let the Princess ride on his back. You must've felt honored. And I assumed he invited you to stay in his own home and spent a better part of his visit home with you. It must've been...interesting. Fun in its own way." Urbosa tilted her head and glanced down at the small hylian knight who was trying his best not to look at her.

Urbosa studied Link's face, his ears had betrayed him and were burning a deep red. She smiled and leaned back before placing a hand on Link's shoulder. Link slowly looked up.

"You know, in times like these it is best to do things that make you happy. We never know when our next moment may be our last what with the ever growing threat against the kingdom. It's best to spend as many happy moments with those you love." Link's cheeks were now turning the same color as his ears. "But, in order to have those happy moments with the one you love you have to find them. You've found your person. Now all you need to do is..." Link thought for a second and nodded slowly. The Gerudo Chief smiled . "Farore blessed you with courage, perhaps it is time you use it for something other than risking your life."