In the end, [Y/n] did go ahead and pull off her outrageous stunt after all. Vaati was simply overjoyed that their time with those other two was over. He could finally stop using his old master's ungodly name for once. And most importantly, he wouldn't have to bear being anywhere near the princess's knight anymore.
The bridge that crossed the colossal fissure beyond them was held together by nothing but rope. Still, it could not be that unstable if people really came and went from it on a daily basis.
"...Tell me. How are your injuries faring so far?"
[Y/n] looked at him and shook her head. "Don't worry yourself. I'm getting plenty of rest, so there is no need for concern."
"Your eyebrow twitches whenever you bend your back at a certain angle."
"Well, you did knock me against a pillar hard enough that it cracked. But I'm feeling much better each day, Vaati. Really. Look, the good thing is that I'm alive and well, right? And, my back will stop hurting altogether in a day or two anyway."
Why are you smiling at me?
"Do you not realize that I almost killed you?"
"I do. But you were just defending yourself. For all you knew, I was pointing that arrow straight at your face. I would have done the same thing, had our roles been reversed... I know you could have killed me, had you wanted to. But you didn't. You simply did what you had to do to ensure your safety. If you had attacked me, I would have retaliated in self defense, obviously... but at this point, I wouldn't even dream of trying to kill you." She shrugged in an attempt to lighten the mood with her self-deprecating humor. "I have taken enough lives already. I don't need the spirit of an ancient wind sorcerer haunting me as well."
Vaati stayed silent and looked away. Humans could really be so unbelievably stupid...
[Y/n] broke the silence.
"...Paya said that you were crying when you took me into Impa's house. And that you refused to leave my side." [Y/n] was looking up at the sky. "...I know you wouldn't have gone through all that trouble if you didn't care for me at least to some extent... so, thank you."
Vaati's skin crippled with annoyance. "And haven't you thought about the fact that kids tend to blow things out of proportion?" He muttered. "And what is up with your sister gazing at me all the time anyway?" There he went, changing the subject. "Just what did you tell her, [Y/n]?"
She sighed. "Ugh... That." What a pain. "She said she'd heard we'd kissed before, and I explained to her that some people don't necessarily have to be together to have that kind of physical contact. Turns out she'd made it up to get a reaction out of me, but since I assumed you'd bragged about it to her, I inadvertently ended up confirming to her that something had indeed happened." She shook her head.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Any other maiden would have taken the opportunity to boast on what an honor it was to kiss someone such as I. You poor soul."
"Well, it was you who kissed me in the first place." [Y/n] immediately replied. "So I don't think I have much to brag about."
"True. But you asked me to do it again, just as any woman who has ever seen my face would."
"Yes, and look where that brought us. Your ego has no limits, does it? Even a couple men have mistaken you for a woman at times and tried to court you. Until you opened your mouth and they heard your voice, that is." She couldn't help but chuckle upon remembering those experiences. "Their faces changed from dumb smiles to an expression of sheer horror in a split second. You may have a pretty face, but boasting about it may as well be one of the reasons I of all people don't compliment you on your physique out loud much."
"Oh? Projecting ourselves, are we?"
"Ha! Are you joking? I am well aware of how physically attractive I am. I can use my charms in any way I see fit and mold my personality into a facade to trick any man or woman into falling for me. But that is all they are falling for. A fake." She laughed. "You are perhaps the only person who knows my true self. I think we can both agree that I am way too much for even myself. I am just that special, is all." Her smile did not falter.
"Such desperate measures in order to obtain even a light caress... Fortunately, someone like me could teach you how to have at least a bit of decency," he joked.
"Oh, absolutely not. I'm quite sure the desperate one between us is you. I have no doubt that you would go as far as humping a fallen tree if given the chance."
Such trivial interchange of words continued back and forth as they crossed the bridge. It may have been tiresome, and even bothersome at times.
But deep down, it was heartwarming to spend their time like that.
***
Defeated. For the first time in years, the princess's appointed knight had been defeated.
Even more humiliating was the fact that such crushing defeat had been the product of a sparring session. And now, this 'Ezlo', or whatever his real name was, knew about Zelda's true identity, along with his apprentice.
Even if they were trying to help—or at least it seemed like it—he should have known something was odd since that night when he saw 'Paya' watching Zelda as she slept.
It still kept gnawing at the back of his mind though... 'Ezlo' had completely crushed him in a matter of seconds. Link hadn't been able to land a single blow on him. And his opponent was barely even putting in any effort...
Power...
He needed to become more powerful...
I have to protect you. I must.
I won't let you get hurt.
***
You finished crossing the bridge just as the sun was beginning to set. There was a cold yet gentle breeze in the air... It was all too familiar by now. To think that the only two places you had ever thought of as 'home' were so different, yet made you feel so... at peace. The thought of being so close to Rito Village now sparked a child-like enthusiasm inside you that you hadn't felt in a long time.
That is when you felt it.
"Ow—!!"
A burning sensation in your hand, as if you had just touched burning wood... or, fire.
"What is it?" Vaati asked, surprised.
"I felt something burn me just now..."
Instead of answering, he simply looked behind, turning his face slightly upward. His eyes widened for a second, as if there was something there that you couldn't see, but he could.
Actually, that must precisely have been the case.
Just like how it had happened with Hestu a few weeks before, he pulled you closer...
...And this time, you saw it.
You couldn't hold in a massive gasp.
You took a step back.
You were shaking, you...
How could this be...?
There it was. It was there, in the flesh. Its majestic scales glimmering, flaming claws, horns, and fangs... its eyes looking at you both as it flew by...
"Dinraal..." Your voice sounded almost like a whimper.
It wasn't a dream, and it wasn't a book illustration either...
You were seeing one of those things...
You would have most certainly cried, had you not been in a state of perpetual shock.
You both watched the flame dragon fly by in silence, until it disappeared beyond the endless sky.
Your voice was but a whisper when you spoke.
"...This is my first time... The first time I have ever seen anything like this..."
A sense of fulfillment came over you. Yes, you... You had seen one... You had seen one, at least once... At least once before your life would come to an end. That made you happy.
"Thank you..."
Vaati simply smiled gently and nodded.
There was a lot going through your mind within the following silence that ensued. In fact, you couldn't simply keep it inside your head.
"You know, Dinraal is said to be the hardest to spot out of the three dragons that roam around Hyrule in today's day and age. Farosh and Naydra are said to be seen by children fairly often in their respective regions of Faron and Lanayru, but seeing Dinraal has become so rare that people have come to attribute it as a sign of good luck."
"So that burn in your hand was Dinraal's way of giving you good luck?" He teased.
You shook your head. "No, not really. They have no ill will towards humans. Since they are elemental dragons, sometimes they can unintentionally hurt others, just like Dinraal's fire burned my hand just now." You stopped for a moment, remembering something you talked about with Vaati once. "You could say that they are cruel. They act according to their nature, and sometimes, someone unfortunately gets hurt."
Vaati looked at you for a moment before looking at the sky as well. "So now you're comparing us to dragons, is that it?"
You couldn't help but chuckle. "No, of course not. The dragons are perhaps millions of years old. Perhaps even as old as the goddesses themselves..."
The goddesses themselves...
"...Do you hold a grudge against the goddesses, [Y/n]?"
...That was a hard question to answer.
"...I wouldn't say my grudge is against the goddesses themselves. Or, perhaps the best thing to say is that I can't know whether my grudge really is against them or not... We are all taught to believe that they created everything from nothing, and that they protect and bless those who are worthy, while their divine punishment comes upon those who seek to do harm to the land.
They choose certain people to pass down messages from them, and provide the Hero with immense power in Hyrule's time of need... And yet, people fight each other until they die. People are tortured, killed... made to submit to unthinkable things... The just and honest continue suffering and spilling their blood, while those who steal, kill, and lie continue living their lives without retribution.
If one dares question their existence, or the extent of their power, they are shunned and prejudiced against. So... if the goddesses really are all powerful like we are made to believe, then yes. My grudge is against them. They see our existence as some mere game to amuse themselves and see how far they can go before the world collapses.
If they are not, in fact, perfect beings... Then my grudge would be against the apostates who rule over us and humanity as a whole. Plus, there's always the possibility that the goddesses don't exist to begin with."
Vaati was listening quietly.
"...I think... I think I want to believe that they exist, even though their power is limited, and that they genuinely love us though... Silly as that may sound. Maybe it's just some ridiculously strong catharsis I feel whenever I sing a song meant for them, though. Still..."
You looked at the sky.
"Living all those years, watching an endless cycle repeat itself, unable to do anything to change it... I think... I think it would start taking its toll on anyone's psyche sooner or later... It's something sad to think about, but..."
There had always been a question bugging you.
It had always been there, and you had never been able to voice it to anyone.
But maybe, just maybe...
Perhaps Vaati would understand.
"...If they are somewhere out there... do you think the goddesses have gone mad?"
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[Y/n] brought out the Fire Emblem Echoes mad god philosophy oop-