Chapter Text
"This place is amazing!" Zelda said, eyes wide as she looked around the ruins. Revali nodded absentmindedly, studying the map.
"Mhm. We're close to the Great Fairy, so we'll continue soon." He put the map away and frowned at Zelda. "Wh-what are you doing?"
She had climbed up to the highest part of the ruins, and had picked up the moss. She looked like she was about to eat it. "What does it look like I'm doing?" she said. "I'm gathering data."
"By eating moss?" Revali asked. "There are more efficient ways to study the ruins, you know." "Hey," she said, "Just because I'm putting it close to my face, doesn't mean I'm going to eat it." Revali sighed. "Whatever you say, Zel."
He stood up and waited for her to finish poking around. When she had gathered enough "data samples" (little bits of moss and rocks) they continued for Piper Ridge. They walked in silence for a little while.
"Ooh, summer rain," Zelda said, for apparently invisible clouds had started dripping on them. "Ugh," Revali muttered. He didn't like summer rain, they had no source, were wet, and made Tabantha far too shiny for his liking. Zelda appeared to enjoy it though, and he had learned long ago that you didn't complain about things she enjoyed (unless you wanted to be flung into Lake Totori, of course).
Zelda stopped, and suddenly starting running ahead. "Whoa, what is-" and then Revali saw it. Just ahead, there was a... strange, to say the least, sight.
A giant bulbous thingy sat on the ridge beneath them, surrounded by mighty thistles and luminous stone deposits. Four little fairies flew around the area, dropping pink glitter onto the ground. It appeared to be colored bright green, though orange step-like things led up to it and it was covered in reddish spikes.
Zelda had paused at the edge of the cliff overlooking it. "That must be the Great Fairy!" Zelda said excitedly. "Huh," Revali said. "I thought it'd be... more sparkly or golden or something."
"Come on, Revali," Zelda said, looking at him. "You're not gonna let that stop you, are ya?" "Well," he began, "No, but-"
Zelda interrupted by blowing raspberry at him, before she leapt onto the wall and began climbing down. Revali snorted, then jumped, and used the wind to gently land on the ground. He walked around, waiting for Zelda to finish climbing. She landed and said, "Alright, Galli said something about a rupee offering, so..."
Revali groaned. "I didn't bring any rupees, Zel." Zelda winked at him. "Oh yeah? I always have some on me." She walked up the orange steps and knocked on the bulb. Revali stepped up as well, standing next to her.
"What is it?" came a smooth voice, one that sounded rather annoyed. A line in the bulb opened up a little, and a large grey eye peered out at them. It widened at the sight, and said, "Oh! Visitors!"
The line closed, and the bulb spread out, revealing a glowing fountain on the inside.
"This must be what you're looking for, eh Revali?" Zelda said, throwing him a smug look. "I guess it is," Revali said, in awe of the sheer beauty of the Great Fairy Fountain.
The Great Fairy erupted out of the fountain with a big gasp of the fresh air. She coughed a little, before turning to face them. Revali recognized the large grey eyes from right before. "You!" the Fairy said happily.
She booped Zelda on the nose. "I know you!" she said. "I, um, you do?" Zelda asked. "Yes, we met last night, remember?" the Great Fairy said. "I was the little fairy, at the pond with the lantern. "Ohhh," Zelda said, remembering something Revali didn't know.
"But who is this?" the Fairy asked, diverting her attention to Revali. "Revali," he said, then cleared his throat. "Of the Rito."
"Ooo," she said, "A Rito! Despite living so close by I don't get to see very many of them."
The Great Fairy rested her hands on her face, and her elbows on the edge of the fountain. "Anyways, my name is Kaysa!" she said. "I do appreciate that offering you gave me last night, dear," she told Zelda. Zelda took on a look of understanding. "Ohh, the purple rupee!"
Revali cleared his throat. "A-hem. I exist, you know" The Great Fairy started, as if not expecting him to suddenly speak.
…Or Kaysa had just forgotten that Revali was there. Either way. With Revali, Zelda, and Kaysa's elbows on the steps leading up to the Fairy Fountain, it was kind of cramping his space.
"In fact," Kaysa continued, "I appreciate it so much, that I'll help you out! I am a Great Fairy, after all. My history is imbued with magic."
"Uh, cool?" Zelda said.
"Oh, but I first have to address, why did you come here?" the Great Fairy asked. "Oh, "Zelda said.
"Zel knows this guy at the stable called Galli," Revali said, "who told her of the Great Fairy at Piper Ridge."
"Uh-hu-" Zelda started to agree, but then Revali continued. "And then she started pestering me to come with her."
Zelda stuck out her tongue at Revali, but he simply smirked back at her. The Great Fairy looked in between them, before saying, "Well then."
"So, dear, what is it that you would like help with?" the Great Fairy said. Zelda scrunched up her face and thought. "I... um..."
"Oh, nevermind then," the Great Fairy said, a gleam suddenly in her eyes. "I'll choose something for you."
She touched a large finger to Zelda's forehead and closed her eyes. "Hmm... no she's good there... ooooh, fell in the lake, did we... "
Revali wondered how Kaysa knew about when Zelda was ten, when she and Revali had been racing each other around Rito Village and they had both accidentally fallen in the lake. He clearly, and not very fondly, remembered swimming back to the village and dragging themselves out of the icy cold water, shivering like mad. The only good part of it was when Saki made her famous hot chocolate for them. He would cherish that memory of sitting next to Zelda, of wearing blankets by the fire, drinking the delicious deliciousness while Saki and Amali fussed over them.
"We-e-ell," Kaysa said, "Looks like you have a happy life! So let's do something to make life happier for you!"
She began drumming on the fountain with her hands to create a buildup effect, before saying, with jazz hands, "Putting some more love into your life!"
Zelda made a gagging noise. "And why would I want more love in my life?"
"Because," Kaysa said, "Love is a beautiful thing. The bond between you and a special person can be stronger than diamond and more powerful than the Triforce. Besides, I know you have a crush as of now!"
Revali silently choked at that, why or on what, he didn't know. Water in the air? His own existence?
"Really?" Zelda asked. "Me? Having a crush? Also, Rev, are you okay?" She had noticed him choking.
"Yes, you have one," Kaysa said, "And lemme check something real quick..."
She pressed a finger to Revali's forehead. It was cold, yet somehow warm at the same time. "Um," Revali said.
"Oh yes, and it appears to already be requited!" Kaysa said cheerfully. Zelda frowned. "Already?! You were going to force someone-"
"Was going to," Kaysa corrected. "But I'm not, because there's no need to."
"I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of that was," Revali piped in. Kaysa looked at him. "Purpose of what?" "Putting your finger on my face," Revali said. Kaysa frowned at him. "It's you, you're her love."
Zelda nearly fell into the lake of the Fairy Fountain, she was laughing so hard. "Revali?!" she asked through loud laughter. "I hardly believe that!"
"Indeed," Revali said. "I, em, no. That's.. that's not true, there is no crush, and no... requiting going on here," he added.
Zelda put her arm around Revali and put her other hand on her hip. "I'm sorry, but we're friends, nothin' more." Revali nodded.
Kaysa shrugged. "That's just denial, my good friends."
"Zel?" Revali asked. "Yeah?" "Can you get off of me?" "Oh." Zelda did as he requested, than turned back to Kaysa. "Continue," she gestured.
"It's just denial," she continued. "Despite you not believing it, you both know somewhere deep, deep, down it's true! Anyways, if there's nothing else, I shall leave now! Awaay!"
And just like that, Kaysa dropped back into her fountain, leaving Zelda and Revali standing there silently. "So, um," Revali said, unsure how to really process the conversation that they had just had.
"Oh, look!" Zelda said suddenly, "It's getting dark! We'd better head back!"
Revali cleared his throat. "Right! Let's go."
- - -
They arrived back at the village by nightfall. They checked in with Teba (Saki was apparently shopping for ingredients at the general store) who seemed surprised to see them still up this late.
"What were you kids doing outside of the village at night?" he asked. "It's dangerous, what with Stals and Keese out there." "We know," Zelda said. "We were visiting the Great Fairy." "Did you now?" Teba said, turning to face them. Revali nodded. "We weren't attacked, thank goodness."
"Well, good," Teba said. "Now, you should probably get some sleep."
For once, Revali couldn't agree more.