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emotionalenigmasstuff · 2 years ago

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Chapter 2: Training

Cerouh woke up with a start, nearly falling out of his hammock. Their feathers were puffed up farther than anytime before, and they were hyperventilating.

They were being haunted by images of Windblight Ganon. Not fighting that monster themself, but watching it murder Master Revali. At least, an approximation of him.

But those screams sounded very real.

Cerouh never wanted to hear them again.

He was far too awake to fall back asleep now, so they stood up on the cold wooden floor of their roost. They dressed in their tights and bodysuit and grabbed their spear, exiting the roost quietly. They walked to the nearest landing platform and took off, the cold wind waking them up further. They flew upwards and found Vah Medoh perched on the top of the rock, and hovered there momentarily.

Revali's green light was on one of Medoh's outstretched wings, and Cerouh saw that he was looking toward the mountain range.

They flew over and landed as quietly as they could so as to not disturb the other Rito. They walked over, fluffing their feathers to keep them warm in the frigid night air.

"Why are you still awake?" Revali muttered indignantly. His eyes were half lidded and emotionless.

"Nightmare." Cerouh admitted, standing next to the old Champion. "You alright?"

"Does it matter?" Revali sighed, head drooping. "Yes, I'm alright. What about you, then? What was this nightmare about?"

Cerouh furrowed their brow. "I don't really remember, now."

Revali scoffed, turning to face Cerouh. "Don't remember, or embarrassed by it? Little fledgling scared of the dark?"

"No!" Cerough squawked, eye twitching. They felt their face burning.

"Then what was it? You wouldn't come complaining about a nightmare you don't remember unless you were desperate for attention." Revali barked, his own feathers bristling.

"It was Windblight, okay? I watched-" The image of Master Revali being shot through the chest with that dangerous light, his pained and terrified scream flashed and echoed throughout Cerouh's brain, and they hugged himself. "I watched it kill you."

Revali had gone rigid. "The imagination can be quite... gruesome."

"Nobody can even say it was just a dream, because it wasn't." Cerouh mumbled, blinking back tears. They sniveled and turned away from the other male.

"I'm sorry I pushed, Cerouh." Revali seemed to not know what to do in this situation. He slowly approached, and Cerouh closed his eyes.

A cool pair of hands found his shoulders, and suddenly he was being pulled forward into a surprisingly solid body. Cerouh's shoulders shook with the effort of holding in his cries, and they clung to the older Rito. Circles were being rubbed into their shoulders, and fingers were carding through their short hair-like feathers. Revali was cooing softly, and Cerouh hiccuped.

The two stood like that in silence for a while. Being held like this was nice, Cerouh thought. It felt like Revali cared. The soft cooing from the Rito had calmed their nerves significantly, and he didn't want to let go.

All good things must come to an end, because Revali started to step away. The younger Rito bit back a childish whine, wings coming back to surround themself again.

"Thanks." Cerouh whispered, not trusting his voice at that particular moment. Revali stayed silent, though he nodded in response. "I should... I should get back to sleep. It's still early."

"You should." The ghost agreed, voice tight. "Sleep well, Cerouh."

"You t-" they cut themself off, giggling at the prospect of a ghost sleeping. "Thank you."

They flew off without another word, back down to their nest. Tomorrow would be a day full of training atop Vah Medoh. They needed the rest, badly.

---

They had set up dummies and targets along one end of the Divine Beast. They planned on brushing up his archery skills, just in case. While the Calamity had been utterly destroyed, the Champions needed to be prepared for anything. Apparently, Ganon revived every few hundred years or so, so they needed to be ready to fight.

Cerouh picked up his bow. He was glad that he got to keep the weapons he found during that trial, they were beautiful and sturdy. He stood a fair distance from the targets, readying his bow and aiming.

Cerouh heard a disappointed 'tsk' from the other Rito, and they rolled his eyes. They drew the string back and prepared to shoot.

"No no, stop it." Revali ordered, and Cerouh lowered his bow. "It's painfully obvious you don't do this often."

"Well excuse me for having a preference..." Cerouh mumbled under his breath.

Revali came up behind the young Rito. "Do it again."

He did as told, raising his bow and aiming. Revali's hands were on him in an instant, adjusting their posture. "Square up more, you're just going to hurt yourself like this." The ghost's impossibly cold hands were on Cerouh's hips now, and they shuddered. "Straighten your back."

Those feathered hands kept roaming, and a soft squeak emanated from Cerouh's beak. Revali was walking around the young Rito now, inspecting. "Better... shoot, let me see."

Cerouh released the string, and they hit the bullseye first shot. "I would have done perfectly fine without your help, you know."

"Maybe. But admit it, you enjoyed my touch." Revali teased, winking at the Champion.

Was-

Did he just-

Did he just flirt on Cerouh?!

The young Rito was positively burning up, his cheek feathers fluffing up and fanning out over their beak. Revali laughed heartily, clutching his stomach.

"Why- what-" Cerouh stammered, beak flapping wildly as he struggled to find words. "What?"

Revali took a moment to calm himself, and he leaned forward onto his knees. "You should have seen your face! Hah!" He looked up at the flustered Champion. "Oh, Hylia. I apologize, but seriously, that was hilarious."

"Don't play with me like that!" Cerouh whined, hiding his face in his palms. "Jerk..."

---

Training went well, and Cerouh was already starting to feel sore. They laid on the ground, wings outstretched to their sides. They stared up at the sky, watching clouds drift by as they let his muscles relax.

"Tired already?" Revali teased, sitting nearby.

"Are you kidding me? I trained for nearly 3 hours!" Cerouh shouted, exasperated. They sat up, groaning.

"That's nothing, kid." Cerouh raised a brow. "All I'm saying is, when you start training with the knights, you'll wish you were dead."

"Sounds like /I/ got the short end of the stick..." Cerouh shook their head. He stood up and bent forward, pressing their palms flat against the ground, stretching out their leg and back muscles. "Thank you, by the way, for helping me." He lifted their head and grinned.

"Really, what else was I supposed to do? Watch you incapacitate yourself?" Revali shook his head. "You're still practically useless with a bow. You needed correcting every time you picked it up. Shame, really. This bow is beautiful, and it's going to waste with you."

"By all means, Master, keep it. I'd much prefer it being used by someone who would appreciate it." Cerouh scoffed, straightening up and pulling their wing over their chest and twisting his spine.

"And use it for what? Target practice? In case you've forgotten, I'm dead. There is nothing I can use it for, Cerouh." Revali seethed, eye twitching.

"Then don't complain. Sheesh, you really sound like you've a stick up your-"

"Finish that sentence, I dare you."

"-cloaca." Cerouh smirked, and suddenly a very angry Revali was rushing toward the young Champion. Cerouh laughed, backing away and dodging every one of Revali's attempts to grab him. Revali was cursing him, calling them some pretty nasty names, both in Hylian and Rito languages, but Cerouh was too overjoyed.

Revali caught them off guard and suddenly had him pinned to the ground by the wings. Cerouh calmed his laughs to soft chuckles, smiling wide at the bristling Rito above him.

"You little piece of shit, how dare you say something so crude, you are so incredibly disrespectful, did your mother ever teach you manners?!" He squawked, rambling on about how he would have never spoken to a superior that way, how he knew Cerouh was better than that, et cetera.

It sparked a warmth in the young Rito's heart that was completely foreign, and they found themself staring at the ghost on top of him.

-----

The Princess had come by to see how Cerouh was faring with Vah Medoh. He had learned quickly how to steer the Beast, and was able to pilot in loops for Zelda. Revali couldn't keep his beak shut about how the young pilot wasn't applying himself to this job, and Cerouh just about had it. Perching Vah Medoh back onto its rock, he turned to the ghost.

"You know, I was just proving I could get Medoh moving, right? Not showing off?" They scoffed, eye twitching.

"If you had, you would have won the Princess' favor. Just saying." Revali scoffed, wings folded over his chest.

"No, I would have potentially risked my life, and only made Zelda worry for me."

"Not if you did it correctly."

"Master Cerouh?!" The Princess called.

Cerouh huffed, turning around to dismount Medoh. He felt Revali glaring daggers into the back of his head, and he smirked. "I wonder if your Zelda did the same?"

He jumped off the Beast just as Revali had begun to shout at them for being rude. They slowed his fall with his wings and stood in front of the Princess, who was shivering despite her warm clothing.

"That was fantastic, Master Cerouh!" She smiled, and Cerouh flipped his crest.

"Of course it was." They smirked at the Princess, hands on his hips.

"There is something we must talk about, now that you can pilot Vah Medoh." Zelda's tone was suddenly serious, and Cerouh was startled by the shift. "Come on, this isn't the best place to be speaking."

-----

Cerouh had flown the Princess back down to his roost, inviting her in so they could speak. That blond knight (Cerouh couldn’t remember his name for the life of them) stood just outside, and Cerouh wasn't sure if the Princess wanted privacy, so they said nothing of it. Zelda made herself at home sitting on one of his cushions, motioning for the Rito to do the same. Uh-oh.

"So, Master Cerouh. As the first Champion to tame their Beast, you are the first to receive this... talk." She started, gaze grave, and Cerouh hated it. "It's nothing bad, but it is important you listen well."

Cerouh sat down, legs criss-cross. "Of course, what is it?"

"We- more like my father- would like you to begin training at the castle, with the royal guards, and go on expeditions with the knights to get more experience. This is just for the possibility of Ganon, or as I have just learned recently, the soul of Demise, rises again. It isn’t due for another millenia, but Link's awakening as the hero has to mean something. We just want to be prepared."

Revali's voice chimed in his mind, a cocky "I told you so", and Cerouh sighed. "Would it sound crazy to say that I knew this would happen- well, not the Hero's awakening, but that you would have me training at the castle?"

"No, I suppose it was to be expected, wasn’t it?" Zelda laughed softly.

"Yeah, something like that. When do I start?"

"Today, if you can manage to get there before supper-time."

---

He did not make it in time, which was expected. Cerouh had begun his journey as soon as he finished packing (and said goodbye to Revali, they weren't rude), and had landed just as the sun began setting. He was told that training would start at dawn, so they entered the room given to him and immediately prepared for bed.

Well, prepared as in tearing everything off of the large bed and creating a nest out of it in the corner of the room, anyway.

Cerouh had time to sift through their thoughts for a while as he laid in his nest. Their mind wandered to Revali; he remembered that warm feeling they got whenever they looked at him now, since that little "fight" they had gotten in. It was strange, it wasn't the warmth he felt around Saki. Or Teba. He knew those were akin to parental feelings, and that wasn't what they felt around Revali.

They felt appreciated. Wanted. Something he hadn't really felt even with the late elder and his wife. Cerouh didn't know what it was, but it was nice. It made them feel warm inside, and-

They remembered Revali's teasing, when he had helped the young Champion with the bow. Revali had nearly read his mind. The ghost was right, he did enjoy the ex-Champion's touch. That was something a lot of Rito didn't like, unless it was with someone you were courting, or mates. Cerouh's cheek feathers fanned over his beak.

They were in love.

It's only been a few days. Not only that, but Revali was dead. And they wanted to court him. A ghost. Their hero.

No, that can't be right. Cerouh couldn't have wanted that, especially so soon. They barely knew Revavli.

You can't fall in love that fast.

Can you?

Hylia, they hoped not.

Or maybe they hoped the opposite?

Cerouh grabbed a pillow and buried their head in it, kicking his legs. Why was this so hard to figure out?!

-----

It was still dark when he woke up. Not ideal, but if they wanted to make it to training in time, they needed to get ready for the day.

So, he lit a lantern and carried it to their belongings, rifling through the bag until he was pulling out his usual body suit and armor. He decided to forgo his tights, and instead pulled on a pair of shorts to allow for a little more modesty. Cerouh brushed through his feathers, making sure not one was out of place before looking out the window. The sun had barely begun to rise. Apparently, that was when he was to begin training.

As if on cue, someone knocked three times on the door, and Cerouh grabbed their spear and opened the door. There stood the Hylian champion, and /for the love of Hylia/, why can't Cerouh remember names?!

"Good morning." They hummed, walking past the blond-haired boy. He couldn’t be any older than fifteen years old, and yet he was expected to carry out this legend? Damn, it almost made Cerouh feel sorry for him.

Almost.

"Are you going to show me where we are training, or...?"

The boy nodded, walking in front of Cerouh. He carried a sword that was almost too large for him: a broadsword, by the looks of it, with an intricately designed hilt and pommel, with a golden jewel glinting in the torchlight. The scabbard the sword rested in was beautiful, too, a deep blue inlaid with golden designs, with the Triforce near the top.

The Rito couldn’t deny this, although, was this boy really deserving of such a wonderful sword? Shouldn't only the greatest of swordsmen carry a blade like that?

The two walked in silence, besides the boy's heels clicking and the scrape of Cerouh's talons against the wood. Cerouh thought about asking the boy his name, though decided against it. It would make Cerouh look inconsiderate, or rude, and while they weren't sure of this boy, he wasn't about to disrespect the Hero.

The blond opened a large door, and suddenly they were greeted with the sound of clashing metal and wood, the sounds of sparring. It was still fairly dark, but bright enough to see, still. Knights with swords were dueling, spearmen going at dummies, archers doing target practice. Cerouh looked at the boy, and he was suiting up into some basic light armor.

"Well?" The Hylian asked, looking at the Rito (why are they just now noticing the boy was taller than them?!), with a smile. "Would you like to be my sparring partner?"

"Tch, of course. Any rules? Can I use-"

"Any special ability is on the table. It's still training, is it not?" The boy laughed, unclipping his sword from his belt and grabbing a duller blade. "Just don't seriously harm me, and we're good."

"Perfect. Be prepared to be taken down, boy."

----

Link (Cerouh remember his name!) put up more of a fight then they anticipated. He was talented, and dodged all of their attacks perfectly. Cerouh was /trying/ not to use Storm; it seemed cheap, but it appeared Link had an Ability he was using.

So, their spear was quickly transferred into his beak. Cerouh used Storm to propel himself into the air. Then, spreading their wings and using Storm once more, pushed twin gusts of air that twisted together visibly to create a large tornado. Link nearly got caught up in the eye, barely rolling away. The wind dissipated, and Cerouh landed on the ground, grabbing their spear and rushing at Link while he was recovering.

Metal met metal as spearhead clashed with shield. The two exchanged rapid swings, and Link's strong swings started to leave dents in the spear Cerouh was using. If they weren't careful, the battle would end in a broken weapon rather than a pin.

Ducking under a high horizontal swing from Link, Cerouh kicked out a foot, catching the blond's ankle and toppling him to the ground. Link rolled away, already standing again, panting like a dog. Cerouh growled, rushing Link again.

A shrill whistle screamed in their ears, and Link dropped his defensive stance. Cerouh looked at the captain, who had been the one to blow the whistle, with disdain.

"Yes, sir?" Link spoke up, looking at the other Hylian.

"You two were just going to tire yourselves, I couldn't let that go any farther." The captain asserted. He regarded Cerouh, giving them a pleased nod. "Champion Cerouh, you are quite talented. Don't waste it on an ally."

Cerouh nodded, barely resisting the urge to roll their eyes. "Thank you, sir."

"Now, spar time is nearly over. Be prepared for-"

"Monsters! Outside the walls! Forces needed immediately!"

"Well then, /now/ is the time to test your skill. Men! To the frontlines!"

-----

Hundreds of monsters circled the castle, trying to get within its walls. Bokoblins and Moblins of varying size and colors with varying degrees of armed shambled around, screeching and roaring in anger. It seemed they were being controlled by an outside force, as their usually blank and lifeless eyes were glowing a menacing mix of red and gold, with an uncanny amount of intelligence behind them.

Cerouh and Link were put in the frontlines. The Rito was in the sky, looking for a place to start plowing down the monsters. Link was already at it, knocking back large amounts of monsters at a time. Deciding to start at the back, Cerouh dove to the ground with wings tucked to their sides. They landed with a large gust of air from Storm, knocking a swarm of beasts into the air. Spear now in hand, they spun, the blade catching on fatty flesh and muscle. The pained screams of monsters filled the air, black smoke puffing from the now dead carcasses.

Cerouh fought with such a ferocity he had never before, beak clenched as hordes and hordes of beasts went down at their blade. They sent tornadoes and gusts of wind at the monsters as knights cut them down.

Eventually, Cerouh caught sight of Link, a beam of light shooting out of his blade as he swung. Cerouh watched as Link drove the Master Sword into the soil, vaulting himself into the air and pulling out a bow in the same motion, shooting monsters with quick precision. /Huh,/ Cerouh thought. /I guess that's the reason he was chosen for this./

It felt like hours of fighting had gone by, the last of the monsters falling dead to the ground and exploding into a billow of black and purple smoke. Cerouh heaved a heavy breath, letting their spear drop to the ground. By no means were they injured, but they were /sore/. Looking up at the sky signified that it was past midday, and the young Rito wanted nothing more than to fall back into his makeshift nest and sleep. Footsteps approached, and Cerouh turned their head to see a certain Hero, panting like a dog, Blade dragging behind them along the grass.

"You okay?" Link asked, looking up at Cerouh with a tired smile.

Cerouh nodded and turned away. "You are quite skilled. I'm actually surprised." They laughed. "Not sure why though."

"I'll take it," Link giggled, pressing the Master Sword into the ground and leaning against it for support. "You're not too bad yourself, Cerouh. That Storm of yours is quite the doozy."

Cerouh cringed at Link's choice of descriptor. "I've been working on it for more than half my life. I would sure hope it's good."

Link nodded, but didn't add anything to the conversation. He seemed content with just standing there with Cerouh, so the Rito looked back to the sky.

"You don't suppose they'll make us go back to training, do you?"

Link hummed, then shook his head. "No, I don’t think so. Heck, we might even get tomorrow off. Depends on how the King is feeling though."

"And how do you suppose he feels now?" Cerouh asked.

"If I had to guess, he's very concerned. Monsters haven't swarmed Hyrule Castle in over 200 years, and that was when the Calamity was beginning to rise." Link sighed. "Which isn't possible in this case, Ganon's been eradicated. So I guess he's been revived."

"Great. How long do you think we have to prepare?"

"Not sure, I guess it depends." Link lifted the Sword from the dirt, sheathing it on his back. "We should get back to the castle, I'm sure the King will be seeking our audience."

"Right." Cerouh nodded, bending down and picking up his spear.

-----

Just as Link predicted, the King wanted to speak with the Champions. They stood in a line inside the Castle's sanctum before the King and Princess Zelda, all knelt to the ground with head bowed as the King spoke.

"...with that being said," the King stood from his throne, attention now fully on Bosu. "Champion Bosu, who is the current chief of the Gerudo?"

"Ah, Chief Ganondorf, your Majesty. Why, may I ask?"

"The male Gerudo, as you know, have all been known to be Demise's reincarnation. Do you believe Chief Ganondorf to be such?"

Bosu almost sounded offended when she answered. "No, your Majesty. He is among the most gentle and kindest leaders our people have seen, besides Lady Urbosa 300 years ago."

The King seemed to deliberate this, and Cerouh peaked up to see him carding his fingers through his greying blond beard. "As I understand it, you are his right hand, correct?"

"Yes, your Majesty," Bosu confirmed, nodding. "If anything is to happen to Chief Ganondorf, I am to step into his place."

"Would you find it appropriate to allow the other Champions to investigate, knowing the Gerudos' past... involvement with the Demon King?"

"I suppose it would make sense, yes." Bosu forced out. She didn't seem too fond of the idea of questioning her leader.

"Then it is settled. Champions, you are to travel to Gerudo Desert and speak with Chief Ganondorf. Make sure he isn't who I believe he is."

"Yes, sir." Krous spoke for them, looking up at the King. The old Goron seemed a little too keen on proving the King right...

-----

Out in the Plaza where the Princess took them during their inauguration, the five Champions strategized.

"Gerudo Desert is /hot/. Gorons and Gerudo are the only races capable of dealing with its extreme temperatures. Rita, I'd suggest stocking up on both water and heat resistance elixirs. Cerouh, just don't wear your leggings. Link, there is special jewelry I can have crafted for you to be able to withstand that sun.

Then we have the issue of getting Link and Cerouh into the Town, as males are not permitted to enter, Chief Ganondorf being the only exception. Since Gorons are a sexless race, technically, they are allowed inside the walls. Are either of you two opposed to cross dressing?"

Cerouh felt his cheek feathers fluff, and Link coughed. Rita laughed, bringing a hand up to stifle her voice. Krous just frowned.

"What? That is a serious question, unless you seriously don't want to accomplish this mission, which I doubt." Bosu frowned.

"It's not the cross-dressing issue, Bosu." Cerouh assured. "At least for me, it's the fact that you are willing to break your own people's law."

"Yeah, wouldn't you be opposed to that? /Shouldn't/ you be?" Link chimed in, tilting his head.

"I think it's a dumb law. We have proven to be able to take care of ourselves. And besides, we are closing ourselves off to more trade opportunities. It's an old rule that shouldn't be standing anymore. So, I'll ask again, are either of you not okay with dressing as a woman."

"I suppose if it's only for a few days, I'll be fine." Cerouh sighed, shaking his head.

"I'm cool with it." Link agreed, grinning.

"Perfect. I think I have clothes that would fit the two of you perfectly." Bosu grinned almost evilly. She began walking toward the castle. "Come with me, then! Let's go make sure we can get you in!"

"It's like you had this planned..." Cerouh groaned, following the tall woman reluctantly.

-----

#the legends of zelda #tloz #fanmade era #chapter 2 #chapter update #cross posted on ao3

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emotionalenigmasstuff · 2 years ago

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Chapter 1: Cerouh

This matching was VERY unfair, bow against spear. Ranged versus melee. It was almost asinine. Almost.

Cerouh braced himself to summon a Storm, spear clenched in his beak. They outstretched their wings, and a surge of power ran through his veins. Rito Elder and warrior Teba drew the string to his bow, and Cerouh released the power into a large gust of wind that swirled around the two Rito, knocking Teba out of the sky, creating an opening for Cerouh to rush Teba. Spear now in wing, Cerouh was able to attack. Swings of their spear were countered and blocked, but it was clear the elder Rito was tiring.

"Admit it," Cerouh grit out. "You lost, old man." He brought the butt end of his spear down, aiming for the junction between Teba's neck and shoulder. Teba caught it, twisting the spear and nearly out of Cerouh's grip.

"I lose when I drop, Cerouh." The elder spoke as if he weren't out of breath, which Cerouh knew was false.

"You lose-" he swung the bladed end toward Teba- "when I say-" Teba dodged, but Cerouh kicked his talons out- "you lose." He gripped Teba's ankle and pulled, pinning the older Rito under their clawed foot and pointing the spear to his neck.

Panting, Teba looked up at the young male and smirked. "Congratulations, Cerouh." Cerouh offered a feathered hand to Teba, who accepted gratefully, and pulled him up. "I knew you were special. The only other known Rito to be able to manipulate the air like that was-"

"Master Revali. I know. Where do you think I got the idea?" Cerouh smirked, patting the snow from their indigo crest. "I wonder, will the Divine Beasts get new pilots?" They changed the subject. "It seems... quite dangerous to keep them the way they are."

"Actually, Cerouh, I heard the Princess was looking for her next generation of Champions. Why do you think I've been training you all this time? You, my boy, are the best candidate."

Something clicked in Cerouh's head, and an overjoyed smile spread across his beak. "You think I'm the best candidate to pilot Vah Medoh?"

"Of course, if your Storm is anything to go by."

Cerouh looked up at the circling Beast, its calm blue lights cutting through the mist that settled over the mountain. "I won't disappoint, then."

---

It's been a day since the Rito elder passed, and a week since that fateful duel between him and the young Cerouh. The flight range is where Cerouh spent their days now, to distract himself from the pain of losing his mentor. He worked on perfecting his Storm, sending tornadoes and strong winds throughout the canyon, destroying targets and knocking the snow off the ground. They tired themself out, but anything was better than remembering Teba.

A voice called out, but Cerouh ignored them. Spreading their wings, they thought they could use Storm to rocket himself into the air, like Master Revali could do. Shifting their wings palm down, they let Storm rush through their feathers, and-

"Master Cerouh!" That voice called, and Cerouh nearly lost their focus.

"I'm busy." They ground out, clenching his beak and eyes shut. Hylia, they were tired.

"Master Cerouh! It’s me, Princess-"

Cerouh released the power, and the wind caught their wings in a way he never could have imagined. He felt free. He flapped his wings and squawked out a laugh. He never thought of that before, how could they have been so blind-

"Are you done?" The Hylian woman below them spoke, and Cerouh swore she was familiar. "I'm Princess Zelda. I heard you were talented, but even that exceeded my expectations."

"Well of course." Cerouh landed on the wooden platform with a click of their talons. He sighed. "What is it?"

"I would like to personally tell you that I have chosen you to be Vah Medoh's pilot, and to be one of Hyrule's champions." The Princess grinned at the Rito boy. "You’ll need to be at the Castle tomorrow morning for inauguration and orientation. I'd suggest getting ready now and start the journey today so that you aren't late. I've heard the previous Rito champion was, ah... not very punctual."

Cerouh scoffed, but nodded. "Of course, your highness. I'll be there as soon as I can." He turned his back, spreading their wings and activating Storm.

"I'll have guards awaiting your arrival, Champion Cerouh."

They didn’t know what it was, but being called "Master" and "Champion" ruffled their plumage in all the right places.

---

The flight to Hyrule Castle took 2 hours. Two. Fucking. Hours. Cerouh's wings were sore when he landed, and he was tired. Hyrule's mainland was warm, and they had to remove the leggings they wore to protect their leg scutes from hypothermia.

As the Princess promised, two knights met Cerouh outside the castle gates, and they guided the Rito to his temporary room. This room sat on the top of a tower, and Cerouh thought it was to help make him feel more comfortable. That was just a theory though.

Not that it actually helped.

Maybe it did.

Cerouh set their bags on the large bed, and he sat down on (more like jumped up onto) the bed. He fell back and spread their wings, letting their tired muscles rest and relax. He let out a satisfied coo, and closed his eyes. The bed was soft, though not as comfortably as a nest or hammock. They prefered to be surrounded in all sides, though this will do for now. They clenched and unclenched their taloned toes, forcing their tight and tense muscles to loosen up.

Soon enough, their feathers were fluffing up, and they ground their beak. Cerouh's eyelids grew heavy, and they started succumbing to sleep.

There was a loud knock at the door, and Cerouh jolted awake, an involuntary screech escaping their beak.

The door opened to a laughing Princess Zelda, and Cerouh glared at the Hylian.

"Haha, very funny, scaring the ever-loving shit out of the Rito." Cerouh leaned back on their wings. They flattened their feathers. "What is it?"

"I was coming to inform you that dinner was nearly ready, and want to know if you'd prefer to eat in the dining hall or in here, and what you would like on your platter."

Cerouh fell back onto the bed, groaning.

---

The next morning, Cerouh felt groggy and grumpy. Hylian beds were ridiculously uncomfortable, and the Rito could not get comfortable. However, they had to get up and put their feather paint on and tidy up their plume. A blue scarf sat folded on an end table, and Cerouh tied it around their bicep. He grabbed his belt and put it on, strapping his spear to his back. They opened the door to the bedroom, and took a deep, calming breath. He would be meeting the other Champions today. As well as the king. He couldn’t help himself; he started to do a little happy dance, tapping his talons on the floor and spinning. He pumped his fists, cheering to himself. This was really happening. He was following in his hero's footsteps! They were a champion!

Cerouh calmed himself, and began his trek to the sanctum. The only sound he heard were the soft clicks of his talons scraping against the carpeted stone floors. It was almost eery, but as he approached the sanctum, he heard talking in many different tongues, most he did not understand. Ah, so there were guests other than the champions. He opened the large doors to the sanctum, and it couldn’t have been more dramatic. The speaking stopped, and all eyes were on Cerouh. Normally, this would have been ideal, however it just made them feel like he ducked up.

So, putting on a confident façade, they fluffled his feathers and stuck their beak up, entering the large sanctum. He spotted a small Zora female with the same blue garb he wore, and sighed in relief. He wasn’t the only Champion here. Nor was he late, as the Zora was the only other Champion here. He saw a few Rito, and he searched for a familiar face.

When he saw Teba's wife, Saki, he smiled. When their eyes met, it was like a mother and son reunion. They met halfway in a hug, Cerouh's feathers puffing up.

"I am so proud of you, dear." Saki cooed, and Cerouh let out a soft purr.

"Thank you..." He clung to the elderly Rito, face pressed into the woman's chest fluff.

Pulling away, Cerouh blinked back tears before they could fall and ruin his makeup. They bristled, someone was approaching.

"Hello," a kind voice greeted, and Cerouh turned to see the small Zora girl. "I am Princess Rita. I was chosen to be the pilot of Vah Ruta."

Cerouh looked the girl up and down. She was quite beautiful, with her shiny red skin and golden eyes. Strangely enough, she carried a bow with her.

Cerouh bowed their head. "I am Cerouh, pilot of Vah Medoh. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"My father, King Sidon, says he knew the previous Rito champion. I thought you would like to know more about Master Revali, on a more personal level."

Cerouh was about to answer before a flash of gold caught their attention, and he is a simple bird, so he snapped their beak shut and turned their head in the direction of the gold. It was just Princess Zelda coming over.

Of course.

Of course he would let his simple brain be distracted by her stupidly shiny hair.

"I see you two have met!" Zelda exclaimed cheerfully, and Cerouh huffed in annoyance. "The other two Champions have arrived. Please, come to the center of the sanctum."

In the Center stood a tall, heavily muscled Gerudo woman with beautiful bronze skin and contrasting pastel red hair drawn back into two long and thick pleats that ended to about her fucking ankles and large rotund Goron who had strangely gray skin. Both wore that same blue cloth, the Gerudo wearing it like a shawl around her shoulders and the Goron having it tucked into his belt.

Between the Goron and Gerudo stood a short Hylian boy, with ashy blond hair. He wore a hooded cape of the same color as the Champion garb, and Cerouh sneered. He wasn’t aware that there would be a fifth Champion. Which Beast would he even pilot?

...Was piloting a requirement?

Cerouh stood next to the tall Gerudo, and he felt intimidated by her stature. His body was tense, and he closed his eyes to calm himself down.

"You know, this is quite interesting. I never thought those Divine Beasts would be piloted again after the Calamity. I hear they are still haunted by the previous pilots." The tall woman whispered, slightly leaning down and to the side so that Cerouh could hear her. "My name is Bosu. You are?"

"Cerouh." They responded shortly, eyes on the King in front of them. He wasn't quite ready to speak, as he was speaking to a royal guard about something. "You are piloting Vah Neboris, then?"

"That would be correct, my friend. It really is a beauty. I suppose you have a special ability that got the Princess interested in you as well. What is it?"

"Champions!" The King rose, and everyone turned their attention to the large man. "That color you now wear is a symbol of the royal family, wear it with pride! It will mark you as Hyrule's Warriors, and pilots of the four Divine Beasts! I thank you on behalf of the entirety of Hyrule for your future services to this kingdom and its people. Champion Rita, step forward."

The small Zora princess stepped forward and knelt down onto a knee, head bowed in respect for the king.

"With your gift of Healing, you are to pilot the kind Beast Vah Ruta. Take this responsibility with care and precision to protect your fellow inhabitants of Hyrule. Champion Krous, step forward."

Rita stood and backed up back into line as the Goron stepped forward and knelt the same as the previous Champion had.

"With your gift of Quakes, you are to pilot the powerful Beast Vah Rudania. Take this responsibility with care and precision to protect your fellow inhabitants of Hyrule. Champion Bosu, step forward."

Cerouh watched the Gerudo woman do the same motions the previous two had, and they memorized the movement. He was next. He was about to be sworn in.

"With your gift of Teleportation, you are to pilot the graceful Beast Vah Neboris. Take this responsibility with care and precision to protect your fellow inhabitants of Hyrule. Champion Cerouh, step forward."

Cerouh took a deep, shaky breath and stepped forward and knelt down onto his knee. They were shaking so bad. This is it. No turning back now.

"With your gift of Storms, you are to pilot the aloof Beast Vah Medoh. Take this responsibility with care and precision to protect your fellow inhabitants of Hyrule. And finally, Sir Link."

Cerouh stood on weak legs and stepped back. They watched the Hylian boy step forward and kneel down, head bowed and hiding his expression.

"With the spirit of the hero, and the Triforce of Courage guiding you, you are to protect Princess Zelda, my daughter, and claim the Sword that Seals the Darkness in case the Demon King Ganon rises once more. You are to assist Zelda in her quest to awaken the blood of the goddess in her. Take this responsibility with care and precision to protect your fellow inhabitants of Hyrule. Champions, step forth once more, and accept my, my daughters, and your peoples' blessings and trust to watch over and protect your fellow citizens."

Cerouh stepped forward and knelt back down, just as they had before, and so did the other three. Cerouh caught a glance of the Hylian boy and scowled. Was he really all that of what the King said? "Spirit of the hero". That sounded like an awful lot for such a small boy. And what was with the "Triforce of Courage" bullcrap? People still believe the Triforce exists?

The King led the people in a prayer, one that promised good fortune and protection over the Champions. Cerouh used the opportunity to relax and take a few deep breaths. If he raised his wing, he was sure he would be shaking like a feather in a blizzard. They closed their eyes, letting their mind wander.

Bosu had said that the Divine Beasts were still haunted by their previous pilots. Was that true? Did that mean Cerouh could meet Master Revali? That was something that Cerouh could have only dreamed of happening, and it felt too good to be true. There was no way they could meet their lifelong hero. It was... asinine.

The prayer ended. The Champions (and knight) stood, and turned their attention to the Princess, who now stood in front of her father.

"Champions, if you would please follow me." She spoke, almost monotonously, and Cerouh knew it was unnatural, even if they had only known her for barely a day. She began leading the five outside of the sanctum, and Cerouh was glad to have less eyes on him.

The Princess led them outside to a courtyard fountain. It was a beautiful day, with cloudless blue skies reaching out as far as the eye could see. It smelt of late spring and fresh cut grass. Under the arch of the fountain, the Princess stopped.

"Feel free to mingle. I know how stressful it can be to be in the limelight." She tilted her head and smiled sweetly, and Cerouh huffed.

"Stressful maybe for these four dolts. I saw no issue with it." Cerouh stated, crossing their wings over their chest and sticking their beak in the air. Maybe he was being cocky and narcissistic, but he had a right to be. He is a Champion now! Greatest of great!

"Are you sure about that?" Bosu's teasing voice cut in, and Cerouh's eye twitched. "You looked ready to keel over, you were shaking so much!"

"I was not-!" Cerouh began to defend, clenching their feathered fingers into a fist.

"Sorry to break it to ya, little guy, but it was kinda obvious." The Goron, Krous, remarked with a hearty chuckle, and Cerouh let out a low growl.

"I was not shaking!" Cerouh was starting to feel embarrassed. He guessed it would have been obvious, especially since he was covered head to knee in feathers.

"Don’t worry, Cerouh, I was quite nervous too." Rita confessed, her cheeks painted in blue blush. "All those people, and the king! Gosh, I felt like I was about to implode!"

Cerouh shook his head, turning from the group with a flip of their plume. "You're all insane."

"You know," a quiet, foreign voice interjected. "I was pretty nervous too."

Cerouh turned back to see who had spoken, and saw all eyes on the Hylian knight. What was his name again? Link?

"Really? You looked as calm and collected as the King himself!" Bosu laughed, hands on her hips.

"I usually look like that." Link mumbled, looking away sheepishly.

Cerouh shook his head. This group was going to be the death of him...

—

The Champions were released back to their temporary chambers for the night. They would be returning to their homes the next day to begin learning how to pilot their respective Divine Beasts, and for some reason, this made Cerouh feel nervous. Was it thought of piloting such a big machine, or the thought of possibly meeting their predecessor? Cerouh couldn’t tell, but it made it hard(er) to sleep at night. The flight back to Rito Village was going to be long without proper rest, that's for sure.

---

They woke early the next morning and departed without saying goodbye to anyone. Chalk it up to being excited or being antisocial, it doesn't matter to Cerouh. He just wanted to go home.

The flight back to Rito Village took an extra half hour than when he first came to Hyrule's mainland. Cerouh was tired, sore, and antsy when his talons touched down on one of the village's landing platforms. Many of the inhabitants were still out in Central Hyrule, so he was mostly on his own. So, they pushed themself to his limit and flew to the very tip top of the rock that the village spiraled around. Cerouh panted softly, watching the bird shaped Beast circle around the village. The soft blue lighting pulsed like a heartbeat, and the machine let out a coo quite similar to a Rito's call.

Cerouh sat on the rock, watching Medoh circle around. It was peaceful, and they found themself laying back.

A green light on top of Medoh's back caught his attention, and their brows furrowed. It seemed to take the shape of a Rito, with a large crest and three pleats floating in the wind. The light seemed to be watching Cerouh, and he sat up. They never took their eyes off the light.

The figure turned around, and Cerouh stood up and used Storm to propel themself up into the air and onto the back of the large Divine Beast. The figure stood near a terminal of some kind, an aloof air about them that reeked of regency. But, at the same time, they seemed sad.

"Who are you?" Cerouh asked the other Rito, reaching back for his spear.

"I supposed no... physical records of my appearance were kept. I was the pilot of Vah Medoh, once upon a time, did you know that?" The figure turned to face Cerouh, head tilted to the side and shifting their weight onto one side. "Don't tell me they didn't pass down the stories."

"You're-" Cerouh nearly dropped their spear. "You're Master Revali." He stepped forward, beak agape in awe. "It wasn't just a wive's tale? You really do haunt the Divine Beast?"

"We all do." The ghost nodded, looking up. "I guess this means that they decided to choose new Champions. Are tensions rising in Hyrule again?"

"No? I don’t think so, anyway." Cerouh put their spear away. "I'm sorry, but is this... real? Or am I dreaming? I'm probably asleep on the rock, aren't I?" He ran his feathered hand through his plume, gripping at the feathers on the back of his head.

"I can assure you, boy, that this is very real. What is your name?"

"Ah- Cerouh, Master Revali. I am the one taking up pilotship of Vah Medoh. Inauguration was-"

"I don’t need to know all /that/. Just your name." Revali snapped, eyes thinning into slits as he glared at the young Rito.

"Right, sorry Master-"

"Oh, hush it with this 'Master' crap. I am dead. I am no longer a master, nor do I qualify to be your superior. I should be the one call you Master, really." And though it sounded like he hated that prospect, Revali regarded Cerouh with such respect that it made the young Rito bristle and fluff up.

"Right, of course. Err, is there... anything you could do to teach me how to pilot this Beast?" Cerouh squawked, playing with his feathered fingers. His face was burning hot, and he thanked the Goddesses above that it was covered in feathers.

With a flip of his braids, Revali turned to the terminal.

"I supposed I could. I would ask to duel, though, to prove you worthy, but I've seen your matches with the elder. You are quite skilled with that spear, I'll admit. Come, let me show you what to do."

Cerouh stepped closer to the warrior, and a cold chill ran over his skin. He had gotten quite close to the late Champion when he stopped.

"Put your hand over the terminal. The Divine Beast needs to learn who you are before you can learn to use it. Everything else will come like second nature." Revali instructed, stepping back so that Cerouh could hover their palm over the glowing terminal.

Cerouh did as told, outstretching his fingers as he did. They felt a cool wing press into their lower back, and in the corner of their eye, they saw Revali watching their hand over the terminal. They took a deep breath, focusing on the stone beneath them and the rumbling of the mechanics the Beast used to run.

Something suddenly washed over Cerouh, and he tensed up. Something had seized over their body, and he couldn’t get his body to listen.

New Champion of the Rito people, hear my words. A deep rumbling voice rang through Cerouh's mind. A trial awaits you before you can claim this Divine Beast. A new system we Sheikah have put in place to test your strength, to determine if you are strong enough to pilot Vah Medoh.

"Interesting..." Cerouh heard Revali hum, and he internally shivered. He was so close, and Cerouh was having a hard time concentrating.

This trial will consist of puzzles and battles your predecessor fought before. Do not fear, you cannot be physically harmed. Your spirit will be sent to a different realm. Are you ready to begin?

"Battles I have fought before, huh? That's... concerning. The only battle I really remember is..." The hand on Cerouh's back tensed. "You must be careful, Cerouh. If I'm not mistaken, you will be fighting a recreation of one of Ganon's creations. Please, for the love of Hyrule, do not fuck this up."

Nodding, Cerouh's vision blacked out, and they lost consciousness.

---

They lifted their head, groaning in pain. His body ached in places it's never ached before, and they felt disoriented. He opened his eyes to see a carbon copy of the top of Vah Medoh, but bathed in an ethereal blue light.

Cerouh sat up onto their knees, cradling their head in his wing. Instinctively, he reached for his spear, only to find it missing. He tensed up, hissing through his beak.

"Cerouh. Cerouh, can you hear me?" Revali's voice rang, and Cerouh nodded, though not knowing if the other Rito saw. "I don't think your weapon followed you. You'll have to find another one inside the Divine Beast."

"Gee, thanks Captain obvious..." They muttered, standing up. Cerouh looked around, looking for a way inside Medoh. They spotted a hole and ran over, hopping down and using their wings to slow the fall. Looking around, they were met with a maze of machinery and strange lumps of dark goo and... rock? They were inlaid with weird spherical eyes that seemed to be searching... for something he couldn't have know. Probably them.

That thought made Cerouh shudder.

Avoiding the eye-thing's gaze, Cerouh started to walk through the Beast, looking for anything that could hold, or be, a weapon. The area was silent, and it made him uncomfortable. Eventually, he found a strange stone chest and knelt down to open it.

Inside held a bow and full quiver of arrows. Not their weapon of choice, but they were still skilled enough with it not to feel naked.

Cerouh strapped the bow to his belt and continued on. He came up on a terminal-like structure.

Champion. That voice spoke. Press your palm against the terminal. It should react to your spirit.

Cerouh hesitated. Would- would it really? Holding their wing above the terminal, they closed their eyes and pressed down.

They could feel how cold the terminal was against their palm through their feathers. A mechanical whirring coaxed their eyes open, and he saw the terminal glowing blue now. They turned around to see mechanisms that were previously still now moving. Cerouh looked back at the goop, and pulled out the bow. Knocking an arrow into the string, they squared his shoulders and aimed for the eye.

The goop disappeared in poof of black smoke, and opened up another way for Cerouh to walk. They put the bow back onto his belt, and walked to the other side of the room. The wall was lined with paneless windows, and Cerouh peaked out, not seeing any platform he could jump onto.

---

They made their way through the maze inside the Beast, activating terminals and solving puzzles. When the last terminal glowed blue, that voice echoed through the room.

Return to the top of Vah Medoh. Activate the control panel.

"Right, sure. Better now than never." Cerouh returned to the first room he had dropped into and found the hole he entered from, using Storm to propel himself upward. They dropped to the ground and looked at the glowing orange light of the control panel. Another chest caught their eye, and he approached it first. Inside was a beautifully crafted spear, and seemed much stronger than their own. They picked the weapon up, and smirked. They hoped to Hylia that they would get to keep at least this beaty.

Cerouh pressed their palm flat against the panel, and Medoh trembled beneath their feet. They held onto the panel for stability, and watched with fearful eyes as a huge robotic monster rose into the sky.

"Windblight Ganon, the monster responsible for my death." Revali spoke in Cerouh's ear. They gulped nervously, backing away. They drew his bow, knocking an arrow to the string. It had a single eye, and if Cerouh hit it, they believed they had this in the bag.

Didn't matter that this beast was terrifying in every way.

He could do this.

They were the strongest warrior in Rito Village.

They were a Champion.

The beast let out a terrifying screech, one that nearly made Cerouh's ears bleed. The wind whipped around, but they stood their ground. Windblight Ganon raised its large arm and pointed it at Cerouh. It sounded like it was charging an attack, and the light in the middle of the arm was getting brighter. Cerouh raised his bow and pointed it at the beast's eye, drawing the string back and clenching their beak.

Just as they released the string, Windblight released its own attack, a beam of light racing toward the Rito. They flipped away, flapping their wings and transferring their bow to their talons. The beast roared, the arrow hitting its mark. They drew the bow again, aiming for the light on the beast's arm. The beast fell, and Cerouh put the bow back and flew forward, and drew their spear, attacking Windblight while it was down. It let out pained roars and screams, thrashing around as Cerouh dashed around, stabbing and slicing the monster wherever he could.

Eventually, Windblight shook free, and with a roar, released winds so strong that the Rito flew back. Cerouh barely caught themself with their wings, spear trapped in their beak.

"Alright, big guy. This isn't too bad." They told himself, bow at the ready again and pointed at the monster.

A sudden tornado knocked them off balance, and they dropped their bow. A startled screech escaped their beak, and they fell to the ground. His spear skittered away, and they struggled to get up to their knees. Windblight was readying another one of those beams, and Cerouh could only watch as the beast built power in that blue light.

They got their strength back at the last minute and rolled away, grabbing both spear and bow on the way. Spear back in his mouth and bow in wing, they readied their attack. They noticed a pattern; Windblight would be tired after a blast like that, and would just float there afterwards. Like it was waiting for an attack.

The arrow stabbed into the glowing eye and the beast fell back. It laid still and Cerouh readied his spear to attack.

But Windblight was not moving.

There was no way it could be that easy?

Right?

Congratulations, Champion. That deep voice boomed. You have defeated Windblight Ganon.

And as if on cue, the beast exploded into black and purple smoke. The control panel glowed orange once more.

Touch the panel, let Vah Medoh learn your touch.

Almost automatically, Cerouh did as he was instructed palm pressed against that cool stone terminal.

---

With a rush of wind, Cerouh doubled over the terminal, gasping for air. The top of Vah Medoh was no longer bathed in blue light, and the wind ruffling their feathers was loud in his ears.

"You... you did it." Revali spoke, almost in disbelief.

"That was too easy, and not in the good way." Cerouh groaned, pressing their forehead against the terminal. "It felt... rushed."

"I think you should be grateful." The ghost's cooed matter-of-factly. "I didn’t get out that easy."

"I know. Which is-" they turned around to face the previous pilot. "Which is why I'm confused."

"That, or you're selling yourself short."

Cerouh rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt that. But... I guess I can live with it. It's not like it happened physically."

"Ah," Revali clicked his tongue. "That's what it is. Your ego."

"My ego? That fight barely lasted five minutes!" Cerouh was appalled. How dare-

"I was like you, once, you know. I was... humbled, by that beast, so to speak. I know how you feel, it was quite anticlimactic, wasn't it?"

"Now you get it..." Cerouh crossed their wings over their chest. They averted his gaze, staring down at the village below. People were beginning to return, and no doubt wondering where he was. They walked to the edge of the Beast, watching the people settle back into their nests.

"You were still remarkable, Cerouh. If it means anything, I think you are worthy of the title Champion. Worthy of piloting Vah Medoh." Revali hummed, following Cerouh. He sat down, watching their people with a certain sadness that Cerouh couldn’t begin to fathom.

"Thanks. Means a lot, you know, coming from my hero." They sat as well, adjusting their tail feathers to fan out behind them.

"Your hero? I am honored." There was the arrogant Revali that was described in the stories.

"Oh, please. You have to be every chick's hero. Everyone wants to be like you." Cerouh laughed, looking at the green ghost. A sense of calm washes over the two as they watched the Rito bustle around in the village, children running around with toy bows. Even way up on Vah Medoh, their cheerful laughs could be heard. Revali sighed, and Cerouh looked over.

"You should get back to your people and rest, Cerouh." Revali whispered. He looked tired.

"Right," they nodded, standing up. "It was nice meeting you, Mast- Revali."

Revali stood as well, chest puffed out. "It was a pleasure, Cerouh. You will do good for our people, I know it. You won't disappoint me."

Cerouh grinned wide at the other Rito and turned away towards the edge. Spreading their wings, they looked back at his childhood hero and smirked.

"I know I won't. Just watch me exceed all expectations, Master Revali. Just you wait." They fell forward, the wind catching their feathers and guiding them down from Medoh and to Rito Village. Cerouh could hear the cheers and chants from their people as he flew around the rock, and onto the landing platform. He was met with congratulatory words and claps on their back and shoulders, and chicks ran around his legs until he picked them up.

They looked back up to Medoh, and watched the wavering green light fade.

"Just you wait, Master Revali…"

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