Mipha trailed the road leading to Mount Lanayru, Daruk and Revali bringing up the front, with Faron and Princess Zelda in the middle, and Mipha and Urbosa in the rear. As she walked, her eyes repeatedly flitted toward Faron, her thoughts teasing her with the memory of that hug she and Faron had shared. The image prompted a now familiar warmth to flood through her, and she forced her gaze away from Faron for what must have been the hundredth time, silently wishing she had returned that hug.

"Something on your mind?" Urbosa asked suddenly.

"What?" Mipha squeaked in surprise, "Oh, no...I mean—"

Urbosa placed a quieting hand on her shoulder, her sharp green eyes casting toward Faron with a frighteningly knowing glance. She slowed her pace, pulling Mipha back with her so the distance between them and the others grew. When she appeared satisfied that they were mostly out of earshot, she settled back into a regular stride.

"I think I know what's going on here," she said.

Mipha felt a jolt of panic, trying to stammer out a protest, but Urbosa simply smiled.

"You don't need to confirm it," she assured, "But there's hardly any point in denying it."

The Zora forced herself to relax. Urbosa was right; trying to hide the truth from someone as shrewd as the Gerudo Champion was pointless. Her gaze inevitably wandered back to Faron.

"You haven't told her yet, have you?" Urbosa asked quietly.

Mipha felt a twinge of sadness. She'd been unable to confess her feelings aloud to herself, much less to Faron.

"We still don't know much about her, Mipha."

Her spirits further sank at the reminder. She thought of the tunic she'd been painstakingly handcrafting now hidden away in her travel belongings. Perhaps it was all simply a foolish attempt to indulge in a fantasy.

She didn't know if Faron would even return her feelings...

"Once Calamity Ganon is gone," Urbosa said, gazing off into the distance, "We'll all have a bright future ahead of us. But we shouldn't let thoughts of the future distract us from the present."

Urbosa is right, Mipha thought, her sadness deepening still, My thoughts have been selfish. I must endeavor to do better.

Then came that gentle touch on her shoulder again, Urbosa's smile returning along with it.

"Nonetheless," the Gerudo said, "I'm happy you've found something to look forward to. And you'll have plenty of opportunity to learn more about her. Fighting alongside someone can teach us a lot about them."

"Yes," Mipha agreed, recalling the battle near Zora's Domain, "It can."

Faron was starting to regret accepting Urbosa's advice on growing accustomed to carrying a shield. The escutcheon on her back was beginning to feel like it weighed a solid ton. She squinted at the gradually sinking sun, voicing silent thanks that they were almost at the foot of the mountain. Once they reached it, they could set up camp and rest for the night. Then in the morning, she and her charge would continue up the mountain to the spring.

Faron wished it could just be over. What could praying in a puddle do anyway? The King was out of his mind if he thought this would help. But waiting on ancient heroes and equally ancient powers seemed to be his go-to, and Faron knew well enough that there was no sense in trying to speak against it. Furthermore, that wasn't the only thing that had been bothering her throughout this trip.

Revali.

She had to make amends somehow, she knew that. But the Rito had made it abundantly clear he wasn't willing to even acknowledge her existence, much less talk about the recent incident between them. So she simply stewed on the matter, her mood growing worse with each tiring step.

When they at last reached the foot of Mount Lanayru and found a good spot to settle in, Faron felt just about ready to give up on the whole idea. It wasn't as though she deserved forgiveness anyway, nor was she likely to receive it as Revali seemed to have made the decision to unwaveringly despise her from the moment he clapped eyes on her. Of course, his reasons for doing so were his own; Faron had no interest in knowing them.

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But if she was going to be free of this burden, free of her father's influence, she had to make it right. Faron sighed, running a hand wearily over her sweat-soaked brow.

"Are you all right?" Zelda's voice queried.

Faron met her gaze.

"Yes," she said shortly, "You can rest, Princess."

The royal seemed to hesitate.

"You need it," Faron reminded her.

She nodded absent-mindedly and moved off. Faron continued stewing.

Urbosa soon got a fire going. At first, it seemed no one was interested in sleep; Zelda was evidently too nervous, Mipha was sitting off by herself working on something Faron couldn't see, Daruk was brimming with loud energy as always, Urbosa was attempting to get a handle on that boundless energy, and Revali had insisted on taking first watch. Eventually, Zelda drifted off into a fitful sleep, Daruk miraculously ran out of vigor and slept like a rock, and Urbosa curled up next to Zelda like a mother cat with her kitten. Only the three remaining Champions stayed wakeful, Mipha clearly too absorbed in whatever task had her attention to even consider stopping, and Faron herself too perplexed to think of sleep. She inconspicuously watched Revali, regarding his proud form as he surveyed their surroundings with remarkable attention to detail, picking up on even the slightest movement or sound.

There was good reason this Rito was a Champion. Faron had seen as much in their own fight. She pushed herself onto her weary feet, moving toward him.

I've spent enough time letting my fear get the better of me, she thought.

It didn't matter if he chose to keep his grudge. It didn't matter if he ignored her apology entirely. If she was going to fix this, she had to just do it.

Revali's green eyes, filled with contempt, had settled on her. He watched her approach wordlessly. Faron breathed deeply.

"Revali."

No answer, just that piercing gaze.

"I was wrong. The Champions shouldn't be fighting each other. I don't expect anything from you, but from here on, I hope any fighting we'll be doing will be together. I'd be much more...well, comfortable knowing someone with your skill is watching my back."

At first, Revali didn't so much as blink. Then a smile slowly crept across his expression.

"As you should," he said.

Despite the obviously self-satisfied response, Faron found herself smiling back.

"I'll take next watch," she offered, turning away.

Revali scoffed, "You won't do half as well as me."

"Of course not," Faron answered humorously, "I don't have those archer's eyes. But you need your rest too."

"You may have some potential, you know," Revali said suddenly, making Faron pause and look back, "If you're ever looking to improve yourself, I may be willing to offer some guidance."

Faron inclined her head, "Thank you."

Maybe once Urbosa is finished with me, I can think about taking up archery.

She went to stoke the fire before heading back to her spot, though she didn't get far before her attention was drawn to the Zora still busying herself with—honestly, what was she working on? Faron made her way over.

"What's that?"

Mipha practically jolted out of her preoccupation, hurriedly stuffing the object of her focus out of sight.

"Oh! That was...nothing!"

Faron's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but she didn't press the subject, simply taking a seat beside her fellow Champion.

"I settled things with Revali," she said, a feeling of lightness in her chest.

Mipha blinked, a mixture of confusion and interest in her face.

"We shouldn't have any more reason to fight," Faron elaborated.

Mipha's expression turned to one of admiration.

"That's wonderful!"

Faron watched her, seeing how her ready joy lit up her face.

"How are you so...?"

Perfect.

Mipha waited for her to finish the question. Instead, Faron turned her gaze to the starry sky above.

"I never had anyone to protect me," she confessed, surprised at her own openness, "I always had to protect myself. So I never expected—"

She faltered, trying to find the words to express this overwhelming sense of gratitude she felt. She felt a burning sensation behind her eyes.

She couldn't remember the last time she really cried. Choosing to be open, to be vulnerable, still felt so new to her.

Somehow, meeting the Zora had changed everything.

"You have no idea how much it means to me," she said, her voice breaking as tears started to roll down her cheeks, "That you made that promise."

Mipha was stunned, though her initial surprise was soon overcome by a well of empathy. She found herself recalling Faron's words to her just outside Zora's Domain:

"I have no family."

Mipha's gaze fell, memories of her own pain and loss rushing back to her. She exhaled softly.

"The most difficult part of losing my mother," she began, "Was my worry for Sidon. I feared my father and I would be unable to guide him, to cherish him the way she could. He was hardly old enough to remember her. I feared he would have a hole in his life." She lifted her gaze, meeting Faron's eyes once more. "I cannot imagine the hardship of having no one at all."

Faron's lower lip trembled, her tears flowing freely. Then, suddenly, she pitched toward Mipha, her arms entwining themselves around the Zora, her face burying into her chest. Mipha was just as caught off guard as the first time, but as soon as she'd really registered what was happening, she wrapped her slight arms around Faron in return, feeling a flood of quiet happiness. Faron held her as though she never intended to let go, and Mipha found she didn't mind.

Somehow, time escaped her, and when she looked down she found Faron sleeping peacefully in her lap. That familiar warmth spread through her again as she gently tucked a stray hair behind Faron's ear. Then her eyes ventured to her belongings.

She'd be finished the tunic by tomorrow. And after that? She sent a silent prayer up to Farore to grant her a little courage, then made her decision.

Once all of this is over, I'll tell her how I feel.