poisesidon | When I Needed Someone There, I Looked to the Skies (feat. Revali)

[There was no good way of telling Sidon that, in fact, this was vaguely bad timing and, in fact, he was in the middle of a thing, but there were eight people he'd drop everything for and they were, in no particular order:

• Princess Zelda...who, strangely enough, despite the other royalty, was the only one who it felt...odd referring to by name, how odd
• Daruk
• Mipha (see?)
• Sidon (also see?)
• Link, believe it or not, but he'd make Link wait a handful of minutes and then make a point out of pointing out how he had to drop something for Link, what was it? What was so important?
• Urbosa
• And Robbie and Purah, which might seem odd, and it was odd, but the few times they had bothered him they usually mentioned some bit of machinery or another that needed his attention or was about to explode, could he take care of it?

But that was what other Rito were for.]

You have good timing, Your Highness. I was just finishing up a task.

[Small lie.]

What is it?

[Thing was, Sidon wouldn't know any of that. He just got the message and a sudden ray of hope came to him and he was now giddy with excitement. As much as was allowed for a situation.

But now he had Revali's attention. Time for him to be serious, yes. Serious. Because this WAS an urgent matter.]

The Princess of Hyrule needs our help. We have tools prepped for study but princess is held up at the springs. We have to make sure it is transported safely to the castle. The researchers need to make sure it gets in one piece, it is very fragile.

So this needs to be escorted with views on the air and the ground.

[Meanwhile, the Rito on Revali's side of the world commented on how the Champion suddenly seemed so...sharp. Focused. Something had happened.

Because this WAS worth his attention.]

Interesting.

[Of course they'd call upon him! Because this was something that he was good at!]

Where do you want me to meet you?

[Success! Oh Sidon was the happiest Zora in Hyrule! He was very quick to respond!]

Right on the borders of Lanayru? Does that seem fair?

I shall alert my warriors to gear up and head as soon as you reply, dear Champion!

[Oh.

...he had a lot to think about, especially given that slight chill to the air which caused his feathers to puff up ever so slightly in that moment (despite the fact that it was positively balmy for the region) before he smoothed them down again.

Did they really need him here?

No, they did not.

Should he bring some warriors of his own?

...yes, he should, some of his finest (though all Rito warriors were the finest, but some were finer than others and he had to be the pride of them all) because it was a slow day and they all really didn't need to be flying drills overhead.]

Fair enough. I'll meet you there.

[By which he meant that he'd basically do everything in his power to arrive first, even if it was by a minute or two.]

Yes! See you soon!

[How thought of Revali really. To help him in his time of urgency to make sure this went off smoothly. Sidon wasted no time! He set up the journey and brought his best warriors for the long trek. He would be there post haste. He would hurry and beat him there!

This is what he would aim for.

However.

Revali would soon notice he was waiting for Sidon for a long time. A small drizzle was in the air and the time flew on by.

The prince did not arrive.]

[So at first Revali felt rather proud of himself. He had gathered a small group of Rito warriors, all quite skilled, all quite talented, none as exceptional as he was but still decent- more than decent. Quite good. Some- not all, as some still needed to protect Rito Village, to fly their patrol routes (seemingly random to all but those who had flown them before) and march along the bridges. But some of the finest.

And Revali had arrived first and it made sense. Of course he would. Rito fliers were fast, and he was the fastest. The fastest and the finest.

But then they waited. And then they waited. And then they waited just a bit more. And then it started to drizzle and that got a bit of Revali to snap, because it was cold, and he was starting to get worried...sort of. The prince? Competent. Skilled. Strong and brave, with him at your side you never lacked for a defender. Also prone to helping people. Also a magnet for trouble.

He hummed. And then, almost absently, he ordered two Rito in one direction, two Rito in a second direction, he would go in a third, and then the rest would wait here, in case his instincts were wrong and he was being foolish. But he flew in a nice, winding arc, crossing the paths that he felt like Sidon would follow. Maybe he was wrong. He didn't know Sidon all that well, at least not enough to know how he would think when leading Zora along on journeys, but he knew enough to take a guess or three as to where he might end up traveling.

He was prepared to land and try to ping Sidon, but...he was too restless to do that, at least at first, so he would fly.]

[He had every desire to meet flawlessly. As planned. Sidon would want nothing more than that. Have this mission go smoothly with no bumps whatsoever.

A bump wasn’t was happened.

As Revali kept flying, he might notice a few large tracks in the wet mud heading down the field near the path. One, two, three, no, four sets of tracks. The feet were heavy, as the footprints seemed to sink in and collect surrounding water.

Hinox. More than one.

The closer Revali got to his location, the more he heard a clunk clank of metal slamming and slicing against something.]

Guh! Back off, fiends!

Edited 2021-01-24 06:31 (UTC)

[Revali noticed the tracks, and then he tried to ignore them in that he told himself that there were hundreds of explanations that didn't involve one wayward prince. Sidon was capable, there were many beasts in the world, and besides, he didn't know Sidon so well that he could predict what route he might take to the rendezvous point.

He followed them anyway, as even if Sidon was capable, and there were many beasts in the world, and he didn't know Sidon so well to predict his route as there were many ways he could take to get to the rendezvous point, and so on, he still had an obligation as the Rito Champion to defeat wayward monsters that could terrorize civilians who weren't as capable as he was, and all of this plausible deniability lasted up until the point he heard a noise.

Revali made a noise that he would deny later, a noise that sounded suspiciously like an alarmed shout that sounded like an alarmed and concerned Sidon!

It wasn't.

It just sounded like it.

And there were Hinoxes, Sidon couldn't do anything by himself, and obviously- obviously he could- he shot an arrow.

That's what he did.

He shot an arrow at the Hinox over to the left, hitting it on its - he couldn't believe this, but some shots are too magical to not notice - ass. He chuckled, lost in the sound of Hinox.]

Saved some for me? [Called out loud enough that Sidon could hopefully hear. Maybe.] How thoughtful of you!

[Just fight on defense, make sure the others can get into a safe distance. This was what Sidon told himself he must do as the Hinox group led a charge.

Sidon and the others saw them coming. With the carriage of goods, it was far too late to change course or do anything. The giant monsters were here and Sidon had to be strong. He had to fend them off.]

...Get to a safe distance! Now!!

[The Prince had to be commanding. He was the line of defense and he had to act like it.

With his tridents in hands, he went into a defense position. Buy time, stall them, then destroy them. Revali was waiting for him and his caravan! He had to be smart.

Strike first, distract them from the troops.

He was doing a job of it, strike here and strike there. With every disarm he made to what the Hinox would do, he had another to focus on.

He was preparing another barrage when...arrows. Sidon looked up to see a aim right at a...oh my. ]

Champion Revali!! Goodness, you are here-!

[Another Hinox strike with a whole rooted tree and Sidon successfully dodged it. Perfect, a window to fight back!! He stabbed the Hinox in the legs.]

Truly blessed to have found us!

[He could say a lot of things to that.

Revali could say that it wasn't luck, that it was skill, that he had known where the convoy would go because apparently he and Sidon thought alike sometimes. But that wasn't here or now.

Revali could curse the fact that he had sent his men, some of the Rito finest, north and south and basically in the wrong direction, and while he and Sidon could handle a whole army of beasts, it also was a very inconvenient direction that he had sent them in, and, besides, he also wanted to sit down with Sidon later and grump over something-or-another while grumpily eating food and listening to what Sidon had to say to that.

He had needs and these beasts were in the way of that. Not just needs, but needs.

And if Sidon was Daruk, or, perhaps, Urbosa, he'd declare something boastful like how he'd kill them all masterfully and skillfully and wouldn't need any help.

But this was Sidon, so instead,]

You were late-!

[-Hinox, he was in the middle of something, was now really the time to throw a rock at his head? Apparently so. But dodging that rock brought him slightly closer to Sidon's side, so it wasn't the worst that it could be.

This also made things a great deal more personal, as that rock had offended him. He was offended by that rock. He was going to say more and a rock had been thrown at his head, and that's why Revali grunted and started shooting- less bomb arrows, the bomb arrows were going to wait for a moment-]

I'll keep them unbalanced.

[Read: by Dinraal's hot, stank farts rancidly searing the skies and fouling up the beaks of generations of Rito, I'm going to try to shoot their faces before they have a chance to attack and ram an arrow up their noses, go for the legs.]

-Forgive me, Revali! I had a...minor setback!

[He was talking between strikes. Bang, bang, bang. His tridents clashed with the metal of the stolen weapons the Hinox tried to throw at him. But there was a thrill in his voice, a slight amount of cheer. Was it because of seeing Revali arrive just in time? So now there was a 100% chance of winning?

Absolutely.

Everything came with the duty to protect those closest and most important. There was also the absolute companionship of warriors fighting a common goal.

Sidon would be a fool to deny he felt that thrill.

But then the giant threw the rock. Then there was a slight glint in his eyes. A fury. How dare they attempt to harm the Champion Revali. His demeanor changed. He held his tridents tight.

On his word, Sidon said nothing. A trident was thrown from his hands, and went right into the knees of the closest Hinox. The other trident? The other knees of the Hinox next to him. Strike.]

[-the prince certainly didn't want to be shown up, which only made Revali want to redouble his efforts - if the circumstances were different he'd outright challenge Sidon to see who could slay the most Hinox the first - but there were others around. Over there.

Still, Revali felt a thrill as Sidon sliced into those legs, the sort which came with fighting with someone compete- someone he li- a skilled warrior, yes, that's a good way of putting it, a skilled warrior (why did it seem like an euphemism when putting it like that) and he answered the skilled warrior's strike with a few arrows of his own. To the Hinox there, that one, the ugly one with the weird bald spot, yes, that one. A staccato of arrows, one, two, three, four, five.

In other circumstances, he would swoop in for the killing blow, or at least the stunning blow which would lead to the killing blow, but no, they were surrounded by Hinox and Zora and he'd be gracious enough to allow Sidon the finishing blow if he wanted to. It seemed suitable to allow the prince the first finishing blow given that he was surrounded by his people, it would be easy to let him have the finishing blow this time, he could set as- no, Revali was the pride of the Rito, and confident enough in that he wasn't going to attempt to be the pride of the Zora as well.

And if they weren't busy, Revali would say as much: you are welcome. But they were (and it would ruin the impact if he admitted he was letting Sidon have it out loud) but he hoped his slightest of smirks (which was not that visible given that he was flying, but it was the thought that counted) said as much, or, if not that, the fact he was readying a bomb arrow for the other Hinox- not the one with the weird bald spot, the other one, the second stabbed one, just to distract it just enough for Sidon to take his finishing blow. If he wanted to. He didn't have to if he didn't want to, it's just a- nevermind.]

[In the heat of the moment, there was an opening. Whether it was by the grace of the Rito Champion or not, he didn't really care. Certainly, he considered this. Of course. Because Revali was a warrior of prowess, and was hardly impressed.

Sidon was always, completely, eager to please.

With the safety of the other in his mind, he had to finish them off. The eyes, those were the ultimate spots. Revali's keen arrows stupefied and injured them, so it was the perfect chance the prince could ask for.

Have at them, he thought, as without a moment less for fanfare...he lept in the air of the nearest one. The ugly bald one. Before the creature knew what was happening, a trident was driven right into its ugly one eye. It made a hideous gurgle. No time to waste, the other trident was thrown with force at another's eye. Bullseye.

With all of the strength his legs could give him, he lept from this one, now dead, Hinox. His one trident in tow, covered in rank eye jelly, he pounced on the Hinox stomach so it fell into the ground. Trident then driven with force on the eye, with his feet landed on its almost non existent neck. That left the remaining one. The cowardly one, with no other allies, it only knew to flee. So it tried to make an exit.]

[Revali didn't have a moment to admire Sidon's technique, but he took a moment anyway, because you could do things like that when you were as good as he was. Sidon was like a storm, the way he leapt was like the flash of lightning, and the way he drove in his trident was the echoing thunder. And then he took down a second one. (As there were only so many storm-based comparisons to be had things sort of fell apart at this point when it came to metaphors.)

If he had an opportunity to banter, he would. But he didn't, as him admiring Sidon's technique and how surely all surrounding Zora were thoroughly inspired by it had given the third a bit of a head start when it came to getting away.

Now.

In a different time, he'd do something flamboyant. He'd whip up some winds, dramatically pose a bit. But he had a Zora to quietly yell at once no one else was around to pay attention to them, so he got grimly to business. He did the following:

First, a bomb arrow to the leg, carefully aimed, designed to make the Hinox trip. (It did.) When the Hinox looked at him, offended, an arrow to the face. Actually, multiple arrows, enough to make it stumble, swat, fall, be totally unprepared for the additional bomb arrow, and then the talon that Revali drove in for a vicious and personal coup de grace because ultimately, he was kind of offended still about the rock thing and arrows weren't cutting it and he had to get up close and personal for the final blow.

He immediately had regrets. Mainly that there was a part of him that felt like he needed to wash off his foot. Was he a hunter, yes, had he done it before, yes, was this a big deal, normally not, but now it felt like the offense was stuck on his foot.

Gross.]

[A Rito attacking their prey was so quick and deadly, he had heard from many. Such people have told Sidon personally how the Champion Revali has fought that made him the best of the best.

The battle was won, so Sidon had to watch Revali and his absolute tear through the last cowardly Hinox.

It was over in seconds. The various barrage of arrows with a person finishing move. The Hinox, foolishly, thought it could escape him.

…

Incredible.]

Are-

[No, he told himself, be respectful of Revali's pride.]

-Is everyone alright? No one is harmed?

I might have to find my men, later.

[This was drawled out as Revali landed, admiring (kind of) the scenery. It was moderately scenic. The fact there was no dead Zora helped in improving the scenery, yes, but they weren't in the most picturesque parts of Hyrule. It was okay. It was fine. Adequate enough to feign checking out the area instead of acting like he was concerned, or had been overly concerned.]

I sent them in a wide area as I didn't know where you might be.

[He twirled one finger for emphasis, ignoring the fact that he had, in fact, made a pretty good guess as to where Sidon might have been.] But they'll manage. I brought them in the first place for a reason.

[If Revali was going to hide his concern, there was enough sincerity to go around with Sidon. He shook off what remained of the guts from the beasts before tucking the weapons in their holsters on his back.

The battle was won, they can recuperate properly. Sidon had no need to be on the offense now.]

No one is hurt, thank goodness. I am so glad. So glad.

Champion Revali...you have come to my aid, and thank you. So sorry we were so late, truly.

There's nothing to apologize for. As a Champion it would be a poor thing if I wasn't capable of coming to the aid of another, especially the Zora Prince.

[Why was he preening himself, he didn't have his usual audience, it wasn't like Link was in their vicinity or otherwise a focus, he had nothing to prove. His skill had just been acknowledged.

Well, whatever. It was fine.]

But I'm not surprised that you managed to do so well in battle. If I hadn't come along you would've likely won, it just would've taken longer.

Now, then, the question becomes how to get our friends to the rendezvous point, and how to avoid further trouble along the way. Your thoughts, Prince?

[For some reason, hearing the boastful warrior Rito exclaim how well Sidon did seemed to warm his heart. It didn't take a genius to see that Revali didn't compliment for no reason, and it took a fine comb to see the heartwarming aspect of his compliments.

Usually.

But the was outright and forthcoming.

Sidon just couldn't help but smile as he kept removing the gore from his very person. Soon enough, the monster corpses turned to dust and sooner enough they were covered.]

...Oh, how vile, haha.

[Not too pressed, he began dusting himself off just the same, as he considered the Rito's question.]

Well taking the mountains poses a risk, which was why we came this way. Less area meant more danger with fragile gear and less space to backtrack should a surprise attack comes.

This was why I felt we needed a most skilled warrior of the skies to scout the path as we keep guard on the ground.

Fair enough, so I suppose it's a good thing that I came to meet you. [He brushed some speck of dirt from his wing, one which may or may not actually exist, which was pointless as even if that speck of dirt existed there was doubtless others on his wing. Because they were outdoors. And they were both warriors. And there was mud. But it was the pretense of it that mattered. The fact that, much like the speck of dirt-]

I can escort you to the rendezvous point, and my men can hold it for us.

[It was an offhanded offer tossed aside, inconsequential, something that didn't matter.]

[There was dirt. A dried muddy leaf seemed to hand on Revali's upper quill on his head. Perhaps far enough away from any sense of it being there. But Sidon, again, was a caring soul. He saw such things and just had a bit of an inkling to help, even in the smallest of ways.

He walked over and reached with a claw to pluck the leaf from his head with quick ease.]

That is a good of a plan as any! If we are all alright, we can set off now.

[His smile brightened again, hoping to bring some hope back to the shaken travelers. And some confidence in the mission. A set back was just that, after all.]

[He blinked...but they weren't alone. They were surrounded by other people, and he was a Champion, and Sidon was a prince, and they both had roles to play. And he had to project confidence, even as he brushed one wing off with the other and-]

Well, then.

[...

He walked over, a little ways over, a short yet dramatic distance ways over.]

With me keeping watch from the skies you have nothing to fear, prince.

[Revali summoned little bits of air, stray strands of breeze that he knit together into wind, and then into gale, sending himself up in the air, and as Revali did so he found himself idly wondering if he could summon enough wind to lift Sidon into the air? Likely not. There were limits to his capabilities.

Then, he did a wide arc around the group, an implied get your asses in gear as well as a show, to show that he wasn't all pomp, that he could deliver on his promises...and he just felt like it. Besides, he wanted to make sure there weren't any stray monsters coming their way.

(There wasn't, yet.)]

[Perhaps that was too forward. But Sidon couldn't take anything back. As he gave an affirmative nod when Revali summoned his gale.

So impressive, each time he saw that. He would always watch with awe at the sheer majesty of his flight. It is unlike anything he had ever seen. Revali could command the very sky, in his eyes. Truly a Champion, and Sidon's.]

I have full faith in you, Champion Revali!

[His smile with bright with every amount of confidence as he prepared his own crew to get moving again. Everyone was in better spirits and confidence in the mission once more.

The Guardians in the distance, far distance, may have been too.]

[He didn't respond, of course, instead making a nice and broad arc to show off his glide, the arc of his flight, the fact that he was talented.

They headed to the rendezvous point, Revali confident in a smooth trip which-]

[Smash cut to a half hour later, maybe twenty minutes later? A time later, with a boulder being thrown in their direction.

Where were they? Huddled behind some covering.

What had happened? Time had passed, they wandered on, and they were ambushed.

What had ambushed them? Truth be told, it was yet to be 100% confirmed. It appeared to be another Hinox. Hinoxi? Hinoxes? There was something over there, which, normally, wouldn't be the worst problem, but it had a great number of rocks that it was lobbing at them, which made an approach difficult.

They had enough time to get behind cover.

A lot of shit had happened, basically. Look, it's very complicated, and a boulder had nearly ruffled Revali's feathers, he's in a mood. He was in the middle of showi- of protecting, of being a Champion, and then this shit.

And then this.]

If I act as a decoy and draw it's attention, it should be easy enough for the rest of your people to continue on.

[And the worst part was that they weren't threatened enough for it to be a crisis point, but threatened just enough that it was inconvenient and they couldn't just blandly charge in. It wasn't enough for witty banter, but just enough where they had to settle this.

What a hassle.]

...Wait.

[Sidon was almost forceful and stern in his voice with that phrase. But there was a team in this dynamic. Revali, skilled as he was, wasn’t fully responsible for this. If he was to plan, then Sidon had to help him to help each other.

Sidon and Revali were really alike in that way, weren’t they? None of them wanted to play a back role. Sidon wanted to protect each of them. With his entire life. So it took all of the forces and skills they had.]

Listen. Do you hear that?

[There was a whirling sound.]

This is no ordinary enemy.

Edited 2021-04-26 00:02 (UTC)

[If the Rito were some kind of cat-people (which was the sort of thought that Revali would sneer at if it was suggested to him, but that was besides the point) this would be the point in which his ears would flatten. Not at Sidon. With Sidon, at something else.

He took a long moment to consider that sound. That whirling sound.]

I do.

[...]

Fortunately, we are not ordinary warriors. I take it you have a different idea, Your Highness?

Is there a way you could scout ahead?

Your eyes can soar farther than any, with stealth.

[He was firm in this, motioning for the brigade to halt. It was too late to turn back, but they can surely find sanctuary in a nearby forest or surrounded by their warriors in a slightly more secluded spot until they were clear.

Once they knew what they were dealing with.]

We should still prepare for what is there.

[Was there a way he could scout ahead, of course there was a way he could scout ahead, he was the best of the Rito he could scout ahead, he just didn't like this. And he opened his beak to say as much, and then shut it. And then he kept it decisively shut. And then he clicked his beak.]

Of course.

[What, Revali not being able to do something (besides ride a horse), preposterous, of course he could.]

I keep low and keep my approach gradual, stay in cover, retreat once I have an idea of what is there, and shoot a bomb arrow in the air if I need some kind of assistance. Will that suffice, prince?

[Did that irritate him? Sidon cocked his head in response before deciding that perhaps...he needed to reel it in. Did he go overboard again? He tried his best to read Revali's feelings before responding with words.]

We are all counting on you. I will be sure to do just that, you have my word, um-

[There had to be an informal way to assure Revali that they were equals here.

Sidon gave a confident grin. For Revali's faith and the rest of the troupe.]

-Boss!

[...boss.

Boss?

Boss...?

Boss...

-boss.

Boss?

Boss?

B-]

[The sound of a rock being launched in their vague direction snapped him out of it.]

We'll-

[But they weren't alone, weren't they, which meant that he couldn't-]

We'll talk about this later.

[And he was off!]

When I Needed Someone There, I Looked to the Skies (feat. Revali)

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1/2, because this has been a while jfc you should've shoved me into a garbage can

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1/2

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