#BoTW Revali

[demiboydemon]

[only-by-the-stars]

Fic Promo: Song of a Champion

Now that @spacelemon has put up that amazing promo vid of the Mipha's Grace mod, it feels like a good time to do a little self-promo of my own, for something that I promise is related (otherwise I wouldn't be mentioning the vid; I am doing so in hopes of helping to get more eyeballs on it): a fic I've been writing since 2022, that is both inspired by and based on the mod. I've been lucky enough to have been allowed to play early versions of it, and was inspired to write a fic that retells BOTW with Mipha as the lead, taking cues from many plot points and armor redesigns present in the mod. If that's not enough to entice you, then please read on for my list of things that you might enjoy about this fic!

It's about Mipha Judging by the results of my poll, a lot of you like reading about Mipha! I've written a LOT about her over the past few years, but this is my most in-depth exploration of her yet. It's entirely centered on her, delving deep into her thoughts and feelings and exploring the myriad aspects of her personality as we follow her journey. Instead of Link waking up on the Great Plateau without his memories and being handed the responsibility of saving Hyrule, it's Mipha who must walk this path; unlike in the base game, she's not a fridged love interest for Link to be sad about, she's an active heroine in her own right with a monumental task ahead of her from the moment she wakes up, not to mention a lot of questions. How did she get there? Can she do this? What--and who--has she forgotten in her century-long slumber? How will she find her way in this strange new world she awakens to? What kind of bonds will she forge with the people she meets along her way? All these and more are tackled in great depth as she goes on her adventure, setting out with, initially, little more than her own courage, determination, and compassion. I've been told by many people that I write their favorite Mipha, and though this isn't my first time giving her a starring role, I fully believe this is my best character work for her so far. I've given her so much to do and act on and react to, exploring her rich inner life and personality and character FAR beyond just shipping stuff, and developed a lot of really fun friendships for her and gone heavy on her familial relationships as well. There is miphlink, but it's only one aspect, and Mipha herself is the shining star at the heart of everything.

2. It takes inspiration from Wind Waker Mainly, the concept of a character who is not the chosen one stepping up and proving themselves worthy and going on to save Hyrule. If you, like me, enjoyed that aspect of Wind Waker, then you'll like this story!

3. It plays with the lore in fun ways Do you like the older bits of lore from pre-Skyward Sword games? Like the Golden Goddesses and other deities? Then you'll like the bits of it I've weaved in!

4. It treats the NPCs with care, love, and nuance One of the things I'm proudest of about this story, that I've gotten praise from others for, is how the various NPCs are written. I've treated them all like people in their own right, who all have their own rich inner lives, schedules, interests, priorities, and feelings that don't revolve around the protagonist. Mipha befriends most of them, yes, but that's because she treats them with compassion and kindness too. Nobody is shallow here, I've gone to great pains to illustrate a world filled with people all living their own lives that intersect with Mipha's journey in various ways, and allowed people to just be human and make mistakes and have doubts but ultimately just be people. There's a lot of emphasis on Mipha's relationships with her family, and I've certainly won praise for my depiction of these dynamics, but also a ton of friendships being formed and explored, and people have told me that I made certain characters interesting and likable to them where the game failed to do so.

5. It has awesome fight scenes BOTW is a game with a lot of combat, so anyone novelizing it better be good at writing that kind of scene. Fortunately, I am! This is an action-packed story, not just for its own sake, but to show the dangerous world Mipha is traveling through and the challenges she has to face as she ventures into each Divine Beast and cleanses them of their respective Blights. I write really fast-paced action that also shows the characters' mindsets while fighting, and strikes a balance between showing off their strengths and that they're up to the challenge, while also respecting their opponents and demonstrating why the Champions of a hundred years ago fell to these things, why NPCs fear certain monsters. And speaking of respecting opponents, I've taken stuff from Age of Calamity as well as some of my own inventions, to beef up the boss fights, a certain area, and make every Divine Beast threatening (we all know how scary Medoh wasn't in-game).

6. It has beautiful prose/descriptions But you don't have to just take my word for it! Here's a sample from the rough draft of chapter 42!

Shards of light drifted across her floor, leaves caught in the current of clouds flowing over the moon. Mipha took a moment to watch them before closing the door behind herself. The water in her sleeping pool murmured a melody of rest and relaxation after a long day, calling her to it, but she ignored it for now. She’d done all her preparations for tomorrow, downed a warm elixir crafted from a few hearty lizards, and now only one thing remained to do before going to bed. It wasn’t a need, as the other tasks had been, but a want. Nothing wrong with that. She crossed the room to the old chest that lay tucked beneath her window, opening the lid with a whining creak from the aged hinges. A folded length of fabric the color of spilt starlight lay atop the item she sought; Mipha moved it aside. Her breath catching, she withdrew the armor beneath and held it up to the softly swaying illumination of the moon outside and the luminous stone lamps within.

All in all, I think this fic is some of my best work, and shouldn't be missed if you're a Mipha fan like I am (she is my favorite Zora, so if it's okay I'd like to use this as a belated submission for that Zora May prompt). She truly is the star of the show, with so much to offer as a lead character, moving through a world treated with depth and care. If you're in the market for a BOTW retelling that does something different, something no other retelling has done, and does it really well, then give it a chance! You can read it here on AO3. :3

[vvenushalo]

remembered this old sketch of mine & im being so normal about it xx

[buzzzbun]

"I ain't ever seen two pretty best friends-" Well now you have ☺

[tko2dreamer]

[navisakura]

*Tears of the Kingdom Spoilers*

Playing through the Wind Temple quest has given me even more love and respect for Revali in retrospect because now it’s confirmed that he was literally just a guy™️.

All of the other champions were direct descendants of the sages who fought in the Imprisoning War, except him. He had no special powers or magic passed down through his bloodline, he was just some guy who was good with a bow. He had to develop and perfect his own technique to help him in battle on his own, no other Rito had ever done it before.

Which makes the fact that he, without any noble blood or fancy magic, was able to fight alongside the descendants of the sages AND the Hero of Destiny AND the divine princess/descendant of Rauru and Sonia even more impressive. His outward confidence and ego makes sense when you consider that he was constantly trying to prove himself to everyone, that he was a strong warrior despite not being born with power.

It’s also really sad that in the end, Revali’s bloodline ended with him whereas the other champions at least got to die knowing that their family and loved ones would live on. The only things that serve as a reminder of his existence are the Great Eagle Bow and Revali’s Landing. Almost everyone in Zora’s domain remembers Mipha and honors her memory with an entire courtyard for her statue, Daruk has his face carved in a literal mountain, but Revali is rarely mentioned in TotK. (Urbosa doesn’t really have anything but shhh this aint about her) No one that knew him is still alive, except maybe the former chief owl guy?

That also begs the question of wtf was the Rito sage doing at the time of the Calamity, but honestly they probably were just some random person with no combat experience, given that they didn’t know they were a sage :P

tldr; Revali is the best champion no I don’t take criticism

[grooviestsadpapaya]

I've always wondered how Revali must feel knowing that Tulin the rito that surpassed him, was trained by none other than Link, the Hylian that he wasted no time putting down whenever he had the chance too, and deemed himself superior than.

(AKSJSJJSJDJ personally I’m a Revalink shipper which honestly makes this a bit funny but it’s okokok)

He’d be proud! I think his faith in the Rito would surpass his saltiness, and seeing that the youngest Sage - one of his own - is equal in power to the others, would make him happy.

He should’ve been in totk. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TOTK 😭😭😭😭

[deeenae]

“Danger”

I’m late to Revalink week, but I was cooking!! Here’s my contribution, a short comic inspired by none other than @star-pup01‘s fic Skybound Wishes ❤️

It’s sad hours over here. I’ve been rereading this fic in honor of Revalink Week, and Link witnessing Revali’s demise firsthand… 😔 In the Silent Realm, “Vah Medoh painted Link a perfect picture of Revali’s last moments” and yeah I’ve been emo about it for awhile. Day 2’s prompt “Danger” seemed to align with the despair Link must have felt in this moment… UGHHH

I didn’t capture the full scene here so please just go read Skybound Wishes 💖 we all know what Link’s gestures mean even though he doesn’t AHHH 😫

Happy Revalink Week!! (edit: except I’m still sad after making this sorry y’all)

[tlilzhang]

weight of Hyrule

An older drawing/idea I had of botw zelda remade into a short comic

[demiboydemon]

[retrogarden]

To the Ravioli haters out there I love this bird n could write a whole paragraph on how he’s misunderstood n also the best champion

[link-is-a-dork]

[mytemporarycomfort]

Dearly Devoted

A/N: Thank you all for being patient with me while I was away. I hope you all enjoy

Summary: The Champions reminisce their time with you and they know for sure you are their end game.

Warning:

Champion x Reader

Zelda

The cup of tea managed to refill itself once again.

Zelda was in her study for another long evening and you could tell how drained she was.

No matter how many times she apologized for not spending enough time with you or that you must be stressed from being around her in this state more than anyone else, you always stated "Its my pleasure to help you Zelda. I will be by your side, you are not a burden, you are doing your best. "

She cried when you said that. It felt like a mountain was lifted off her shoulders.

Seeing you asleep in the chaise in the study always left a blush on her face.

Another night of studying means less personal time with you, but she was always grateful to have you near.

After this was all over, she plans to travel with you. She makes that clear to you. Just the both of you, no knights, no books.

Link

Link was behind you on the horse. He held you tight like you might slip away if he loosened up a bit.

You let him rest his head on your chest and your heart beat slows his mind right down.

His duty to Zelda means he isn't always with you. So he gave you one of his shirts.

You wear it whenever you miss him deeply. He came home early one evening and found you cooking some dinner in his shirt.

BOOM bright red.

He snuck behind you and hugged you with a quirked eyebrow.

"I missed you Link, I happened to cook some extra dinner just in case. Want some?"

His heart bursted right out of his chest. Ugh, he is simping.

As you two ate dinner, he noticed, your left hand seems a little empty.

If you would accept, a ring on that hand would suit you nicely,

Urbosa

She saw you getting attacked by some Yiga members and who is she to not help, until she noticed...

You fought back with fire and fury in your eyes.

Despite that, she was not one to let any warrior fight alone if she can help it.

You thanked her. You spoke to her as a person who helped you, not as chief of Gerudo.

She saw you as another Zelda, but also different. You were strong, full of heart, but you were also innocent, naive.

She wanted to help you grow, and grow under her care you did.

Urbosa's softer side became clear to you when she was training with you and her hands guided you unlike the others.

You have grown to be seen as equals yo Urbosa. You can truely handle your own.

Even if it ment you would venture out for your own journey now, you was grateful that you were apart of her story and her yours.

"You have helped me Urbosa. You helped me grow and I hope to continue to be by your side."

She smiled one full of relief. Of course you can stay.

Mipha

You always protected her much like her brother. But you were not her brother so why did you fight so fiercely to protect her.

She always found it strange that you didn't mind all the fighting despite the wounds you got by the end.

She always healed you with no hesitation.

Mipha worried about you quite a bit, and it showed how often she was with you.

She found safety and comfort in your presence. A kind of feeling that made her want to be by your side for as long as fate would allow.

It was common to find you two together. A princess and her protector.

She didn't like not being by your side for long stretched of time. She's afraid of not being there to heal you fast enough if anything happened.

"I will be there for you, like I know you will be there for me. We got this."

You two held each other. This is what safety and comfort is. You two keep each other grounded.

Revali

He looks down at his hammock as you laid there reading your newest book.

Revali is a bit of a brat sometimes and yet here you are still here.

2 years.

You stood by him for two whole years and you're still here.

He was so dedicated to his bow, when you held his hands fot the first time, he stopped breathing.

He looked like he turned into a statue.

Then his feathers puffed up and he frowned.

Whenever you show him affection his feathers would puff up,

He would hide his face in his wings then hug you as tight as possible.

He's still learning to show his emotions in a less agressive way, but you know he means well.

Sometimes he thinks hes too much, he'll accidently push you away.

"I don't regret a thing 'Vali. I love you regardless of your little quirks, you know that right?." You told him after a long day of making you watch him in the target range.

He loves you so much. He puts his beak on the top of your head. This was the most gentle he's been with you.

Daruk

You are so soft, this man is crying

He remembers his first sleep over at your house, boy was nervous! Your house is so cozy!

He enjoyed his time at your place, hopefully like you enjoyed his.

He was so happy when he saw that you kept all the little gems he gave you, but why wouldn't you?

He wants to spend so much time at your place. He might as well move all the Gorons over to your little town. JK....but what if?

He just doesnt want to hurt you by being so big.

"I feel so safe around you" You told him after you two returned. to death mountain after his stay at your place.

He's keeping you safe then. He decided.

He doesn't know all the details yet but that is sure.

[z399]

[three-bunnies-in-a-trenchcoat]

The Wind Sage is pretty funny to me because he's just like "our family has a very special wind pow-- what. What do you mean some guy figured it out 100 years ago. What do you mean he was just really stubborn and practiced really hard to unlock the ability to summon the winds? What the fu--"

[vvenushalo]

we all know he thought it at some point