#therealmwalker

A group of seven Rito fly high above Central Hyrule, higher than most Rito usually fly, in a chevron formation like migrating birds. In the lead, of course, is the one and only Rito Champion, Master Revali. To his right is an orange-red plumed warrior with a Falcon Bow. The warrior looks to be about Revali’s height, but with a much shorter crest and a pluma, what Hylians confuse for hair, tied into a single braid that branches into four smaller braids at the end, with a sky blue feather tied into the left most branch.

This warrior is a woman of the Cristatta (Cris-tat-ta) Tribe, the same Tribe as Master Revali. Women of his tribe lack the tufts the men do and the side braids that Rito of other Tribes have. To her right is a brown plumed Rito of the Accipi Tribe, distinguished by their sharply hooked, hawk like beaks. Behind this individual is a Rito with sky-blue plumage and parrot-like face and a spear. The lack of crest on this Arini Tribe individual’s head indicates that she is a woman. She also happens to have a pin behind her left eye with a single orange-red feather attached.

To his Revali’s left is an Orni Tribe man with sand colored plumage, a bandanna around his head, and a small backpack. Behind him is another parrot-like, sky-blue plumed Rito, with an accordion strapped to his back, the Loresinger Kass. Behind him is a Rito with ornamental tail feathers with long thin quills. The plumage on his upper body is midnight blue, while the plumage on his legs is powder blue. He has a pair of axes at his hips and a large wooden club with a variety of metal spikes and hooks strapped to his back.

Revali’s group finally approaches their target, a large landmass hovering high above Hyrule, like something out of the Tale of the Hero of the Skies. A Sky Island! This one is the largest of the Sky Islands to appear over Hyrule. Ever since they appeared, the Rito have been making flights to investigate, however; their efforts have been impeded by the presence of hostile machines on the islands.

They fly high above the island, much of it covered in the strange yellow grass and trees that all the Sky Islands seem to have. There are a number of large and small bodies of water as well, complete with waterfalls flowing off the island and into the air. Oddly, the east side of the island is covered in snow. But the most interesting thing is the very large, peculiarly shaped stone structure at the north end of the island. From above it almost looks like a rectangle but with two protruding rounded sides and two indented rounded sides.

He spots what appears to be the entrance, a large flat area with several ruined staircases over a lake. It’s as good a place as any to set down. He lets out a cry, letting his wingwoman know to descend with him while the others remain above. As they close in on the structure, one of the machines comes into view. It’s armed with a sword and a shield. Before it spots them Revali unslings his bow and catches it in his talons. He drops into firing position and lets loose an arrow.

THWIP!

The arrow sails effortlessly through the air and strikes dead center in the red glowing spot on the machine’s head! It falls apart!

A quick scan of the surface reveals another machine nearby. It doesn’t appear to be armed, and is of a slightly different construction than the hostile ones. It’s sitting by a fire…

Revali calls to his compatriots, “Kass, Kalia, Rinili, Isili! Use Purah’s contraptions and circle the island!”

Kass, his sister, the Warrior with the ornamental tail feathers, and the Accipi Woman split up and beginning circling the island with the devices Purah gave them in their talons. She’s been working on a way to map the Sky Islands since they appeared, and she claims these devices will do that. Testing them is part of the reason they’re here today.

He calls out again, “Billson, Virli, follow me.”

He dives and his wingwoman and the bandanna wearing man follow after him. After a moment they set down on the stone platform. Billson takes off his backpack and sets it down.

“Cover me,” Revali says and Virli nods and readies her bow.

Revali unhooks his Sheikah Slate and unfolds it. He scrolls through it’s menus until he finds what he’s looking for, the Portable Travel Gate Robbie gave him. He selects it and it materializes on the ground in front of them in strands of painfully bright electric blue light.

They had found one of these in a chamber in the Lomei Labyrinth island in the Akkala Sea, unfortunately that little knight had it with him when he disappeared. But luckily Robbie had managed to finish his duplicate of it before they set out on this little trip. Here’s hoping the thing actually works…

He switches to his Slate’s map. It’s blank except for the Travel Gate. At least it’s registering it.

Kass and the others set their devices down and land. Revali taps at his screen and it displays a message.

Syncing with Portable Mapping Units… Please wait…

He sighs, “Rinili, go check on that machine we saw not that far from here. It looked like one of the ones in ruins beneath the village but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Rinili nods and heads off, opting to simply jump and glide from the stone platform to the area below instead of properly taking off. His wings and flight muscles are sore from the flight up here.

He approaches the machine cautiously and crouches a distance away from it. It’s just sitting by a campfire. Suddenly it tosses something next to the fire, some kind of mushroom. It watches as the mushroom is toasted and removes it before it burns up. Why would it be toasting mushrooms? They don’t eat do they?

Suddenly it turns its head towards him and beeps inquisitively. Then it… waves him over to it?

Rinili gets up and walks towards the machine, one wing behind his back ready to unsling his Harpy Maquahuitl at the first sign of danger.

When he gets close to the machine...

“Hello.”

It suddenly chirps in Rito! Although, it’s an old dialect and he can’t make out much more than the greeting.

He replies, “You know our tongue?!”

It tilts his head and beeps a few times before chirping back, “Yes.”

– Meanwhile –

Revali materializes on the Portable Travel Gate, returning from the outpost built around the Sacred Ground Ruins where he was named Champion all those years ago. His trip was for two purposes, first to make sure this thing would work and second to update the other Champions’ maps. Once whole, he steps off the device and opens the Mail Rune on his Slate and sends a message to Daruk. A moment later Daruk materializes with four Hylians.

To Daruk’s left is a dark haired man with green eyes and wearing a light purple tunic with long sleeves, fingerless leather gloves, brown trousers, and boots with metal pads on on the toes. To his left is a man with a mustache and goatee wearing a Soldier’s Helm, red cloth armor over a white tunic and dark blue trousers. Hoz, one of the soldiers who used to guard the East Akkala Stable.

To Daruk’s right is a brown haired, yellow-eyed man with a mustache wearing a worn down piece of Soldier’s Armor. Revali spotted this man around the Tabantha Bridge Stable during his travels with Link and the other Champions, though he can’t remember his name at the moment. To his right is a woman with green eyes and light brown hair wearing a red tunic with white armor pads. Flaxel, he remembers helping her find her companions who had gotten split up while in Gerudo Canyon.

These four have volunteered to join the newly formed Monster-Control Crew, and are apparently part of the leadership of said group. They spread out and Daruk heads towards the edge of the platform.

He scratches the back of his head and says, “Looks like I won’t be going anywhere for a while. Guess I’ll stay behind and keep everyone safe.”

While Daruk materializes supplies from his Slate, Revali taps out another message, this time to Urbosa. A moment later she materializes at the Travel Gate with six others. Three are Gerudo warriors, one is a Gerudo woman wearing standard Gerudo garb, and two Hylian men.

The Gerudo civilian looks around at everything awestruck for a moment before heading over to the door to the structure. The three warriors head after her. Revali can’t remember her name, but she’s some kind of scholar.

One of the Hylians is familiar, name ends in son…

Karson! That’s it. One of those construction workers working for that guy who set up Tarrey Town, Hudson. To think there would be so many people with “son” in their names… He’s been supervising the construction of Lookout Landing and that’s probably why Princess Zelda requested him for this trip.

The other one also works for Hudson Construction, judging by his outfit. He’s got green eyes and a large brown hairdo.

They move away from the Travel Gate and Karson starts giving his cohorts instructions while Urbosa materializes more supplies from her Slate. Revali sends a message to Mipha.

Mipha arrives with four Zora and two Hylian men. One of them is another Hudson Construction employee, with purple hair and blue eyes. The other has green hair and gray eyes and is wearing a pink tunic. Apparently he’s the chef at Lookout Landing…

He recognizes one of the Zora, Laflat the chief secretary for the Zora royal family. She’s conversing with one of the men about something. He has orange scales and based on what they’re saying he’s some kind of scholar. The other two Zora are warriors, one a purple scaled woman and the other a pink scaled man.

Once again they move off the Travel Gate and Mipha materializes some supplies. Billson and the Hudson Construction crew have already set up a few tents. They work fast…

Revali taps out a message to the princess and a moment later she materializes with six more people. He recognizes Robbie of course, and that peculiar man Tauro. He had shown up to investigate the chamber beneath Torikirika, and the one deep beneath that one. The Princess has seen fit to make him the leader of the Zonai Survey Team.

He doesn’t recognize the other four though: a gray haired man wearing glasses, a man wearing a beret with a feather in it, a woman with brown hair and green eyes, and a woman with black hair and blue eyes. All members of the Zonai Survey Team given their outfits.

Zelda’s wearing the same type of outfit she used to wear before the Calamity, although now she’s got a modified Hylian Hood to go with it. She also has her Bow of Light and a Royal Broadsword they dug out of that little knight’s messy pile of weapons in his house’s storage shed.

She’s better with the bow than the sword, but she’s learning quickly, or so Urbosa tells him. Unfortunately her powers are still weakened from holding back the Calamity for a century. She can’t imbue her arrows with light magic. Right now the Bow of Light is just an overly decorative regular bow, but she’s rejected his offers of a quality Falcon Bow.

Wings flapping above catch their attention and Rinili lands. Revali asks, “Well?”

Rinili replies, “It spoke our language, or at least an old dialect of it.”

Kass asks, “Oh really? Which one?”

Rinili shrugs, “I have no idea, I’m a Warrior not a linguist. It’s roasting mushrooms.”

Revali crosses his wings, “Why? Surely those things don’t eat.”

Mipha chimes in, “That odd device Link found could be recharged by depositing various materials in it.”

“Hm. That’s true, but why bother roasting them?”

Wortsworth chimes in, “Why don’t we ask it?”

Zelda’s eyes light up, “A good idea.”

Revali warns, “We’ve spotted a number of the hostile machines on this island. We should clear the area before you make the attempt.”

“Revali I’m not sure that’s wise. If we can communicate with them then perhaps we won’t need to fight.”

Rinili adds his two rupees, “If your highness is going to talk to that thing, then I’d recommend taking some back up. I spotted a few hostile machines in the forest to the south while it was talking.”

Zelda nods, “Very well. Wortsworth, Kass let’s attempt to talk to the machine. Urbosa, Mipha, Pinoa, and Resco will come with us.”

Robbie comments, “Hm… In that case I’ll help Ifumo with examining the door to this structure.”

Wortsworth adds, “Sila go with him.”

The brown haired Zonai Survey Team member replies, “Okay!”

Karson orders his workers to head out for supplies, and Billson offers his assistance. Kalia and Virli agree to escort Billson and aid him in bring back supplies. Burmano begins setting up a cooking pot, while Tauro, Calip, and Cori begin examining the decayed machines around their camp.

Zelda and her group heads towards the machine. Zelda opts to leap from the platform and use her new paraglider to glide to the ground. It’s similar to the one Link used, with a slightly different pattern on it and a couple streamers attached. One of Kass’ daughter’s ideas, Revali forgets which one proposed the idea. Urbosa and Mipha too opt for gliding. Resco, the pink scaled Zora, and Pinoa, the purple scaled Zora, jump into the water below and swim to shore. Kass generously offers Wortsworth a ride so the man doesn’t get wet.

Revali and Rinili opt to scout around the island. He uses his Gale to launch himself skyward and Rinili makes use of the whirlwind to do the same before it dissipates.

Zelda’s group approaches the machine, it’s body resembles the ones they found beneath Torikirika. However those were inactive, and had condensed their bodies down. This one is active. It’s components spread out and held together by pale blue-green energy. It reminds her a little of drawings of the Ancient Robots mentioned in the Tale of the Hero of the Skies. It notices them and beeps a few times before speaking a greeting.

Wortsworth’s eyes go wide, “T-that’s Ancient Hyrulean!”

Kass’ eyes go wide as well, “You mean the language spoken at the time of The First Calamity?!”

Zelda remarks, “The Zonai disappeared from Hyrule around the same time if I remember correctly. So it makes sense that their creations would speak that language. I wonder if this machine has been operating all that time.”

Urbosa asks, “Do you know what it said?”

Wortsworth replies, “But of course! It said that it hasn’t received any visitors for a long time and that we’re welcome to warm ourselves by the fire.”

Zelda takes the machine up on it’s offer and Wortsworth and Kass follow suit. The others stand.

Zelda is practically vibrating with excitement and says, “Ask it what it’s doing.”

Wortsworth translates Zelda’s question, and the machine replies.

“It’s roasting ingredients and invites us to do the same.”

“Does it eat?”

“No. It says it has heard that roasting ingredients enhances the flavor.”

Mipha asks, “Why would it roast ingredients if it doesn’t eat?”

“It says that is it’s task.”

Urbosa remarks, “So it’s just following old commands?”

“That would appear to be the case.”

Zelda says, “Ask it where it’s creators are.”

The machine beeps a few times before saying, “They left a long time ago.”

Kass squawks, “You can speak modern Hyrulean?”

“I can now,” the machine replies, “My language programming is designed to be adaptive. I analyzed your speech and compared it to what was in my memory banks, allowing me to speak your language.”

Zelda asks, “Where did your creators go?”

“I do not know where those who made us went.”

“My name is Zelda, this is Wortsworth, Kass, Urbosa, Mipha, Resco, and Pinoa. Do you have a name?”

“I am Steward Construct J-732-P-98.”

“Steward Construct?”

“Yes. We were built as caretaker and general purpose units.”

“Are there others like you here?”

“There are several Steward Constructs that tend to the Garden of Time. Each one has different tasks.”

Urbosa asks, “What about the armed ones?”

“Those are Soldier Constructs or Captain Constructs, they were build to defend our lands.”

Kass asks, “From monsters?”

“From any and all trespassers.”

“Can we talk to them? Convince them we mean no harm?”

“I am afraid not. Only a Zonai can change their instructions.”

Mipha comments, “Our Rito friends have spotted larger machines on the some of the Sky Islands. Are they constructs too?”

The Steward Construct nods, “Yes, they are called Flux Constructs. They are very powerful and used to guard our most sensitive areas.”

Zelda asks, “Are their other types of Constructs?”

“There were plans for a mid-sized model larger than Steward Constructs but smaller than Flux Constructs. However, I do not think any were ever completed.”

Suddenly Zelda’s Purah Pad beeps! She’s received a message from Daruk!

Hey Princess! Tauro says he’s found something you should take a look at!

Zelda remarks, “We should go see what he’s found.”

Zelda says good-bye to the Construct and uses the Fast Travel function to return everyone to camp.

– Meanwhile –

Revali flies high above the eastern part of the Sky Island. He notes the snow covered landscape. His fellow Rito won’t have a problem, and Urobsa, Mipha, and Princess Zelda all have cold weather clothing. The rest of the team however will have to fix warm meals. He supposes he could spare some Spicy Peppers.

Although that won’t help with the ice covered cliff faces. Urbosa, Mipha, and the Princess could use his Gale to get around that particular obstacle. His Slate suddenly chimes, he’s received a message via the Mail Rune.

He swoops down and perches on the trunk of long dead, hollowed out old tree overlooking a structure with three peculiar grooves on the floor. There are strange green objects scattered around the groves shaped like birds. There’s also one of those machines near a large device. A blue orb that appears to be filled with some kind of objects.

The machine hasn’t spotted him so he looks at his Slate. He mutters to himself, “So they’ve found something. Guess I should head back.”

He takes off again and heads back to camp.

Approaching camp, he spot’s Princess Zelda’s group materializing at the Travel Gate. They walk towards the door to the structure and he lands near them.

Princess Zelda asks, “What did you find Tauro?”

Tauro excitedly replies, “I’ve translated the text on the door!”

Revali queries, “What does it say?”

“Only those with the three powers may open the way.”

Revali raises an eyebrow, “Three powers?”

Princess Zelda approaches the door and suddenly a glyph appears in front of it. Just like the ones those machines beneath the Village were projecting. She attempts to touch it and suddenly tree circular indents light up with glyphs: a red hand shape, a blue sword shape with a halo around the tip of the blade, and a stick figure surrounded by pale green light coming from the center of a circular shape. One by one red lines cross the glyphs and a loud buzzing sound rings out each time. Finally the large glyph turns red.

Revali remarks, “Well I guess that means you don’t have these ‘three powers’ the inscription is talking about.”

Urbosa elbows him in the wing hard and he squawks.

Princess Zelda remarks, “These three smaller glyphs must represent the ‘powers’ the message on the door speaks of.”

“Maybe those stone structures with the glowing rings have something to do with it?”

Revali turns his head to find the source of the voice. Rinili stands behind them. He didn’t even hear him land! Although, stealth is something Ryski (Rye-ski) Warriors excel at…

Calip adds his two rupees, “There’s one not that far from here.”

Indeed, the closest one is to the west. A large stone object shaped similar to a flower bulb, surrounded by a stone ring. A swirling light hovers above it, light blue near the stone and gradually turning to green as it drifts upward.

Robbie chimes in, “You know, that kind looks like the structures we found underneath the Ancient Sheikah shrines we’ve been taking apart.”

Revali adds, “We’ve spotted similar structures on some of the other Sky Islands. In addition to stone rings without the central fixture.”

Zelda replies, “We should investigate then, but first we should talk about the Constructs.”

“Constructs?”

“Yes, that’s what those machines are called. The hostile ones are Soldier Constructs and unfortunately we will not be able to reason with them.”

The man with the purple tunic speaks, “I see. We will see to taking them out then.”

Princess Zelda commands, “No Gralens. I don’t want to interfere with this place any more than we have to.”

“Then what should we do?”

Urbosa speaks up, “Little bird, we’re going to have to take out the ones closest to the camp at least.”

Princess Zelda sighs, “I know, however I’m ordering all of you to avoid unnecessary combat. Only engage if there is an immediate threat.”

Gralens nods and moves to instruct his troops.

Revali asks, “How did you find out what those things were called?”

Princess Zelda replies, “The Steward Construct by the fire told us. It actually learned our language as we were talking!”

Revali’s crest twitches slightly. It would seem these Constructs are at a similar level of sophistication as the Divine Beasts. Well perhaps less sophisticated, Vah Medoh did learn modern Rito by scanning his mind after all…

Zelda makes her way to the western end of the platform. Revali asks, “Where are you going?”

She turns to face him and replies, “To investigate that structure.”

“I’m going with you.”

“Very well, Mipha, Urbosa, you may come along as well. Resco and Pinoa you should help guard the construction teams and researchers.”

They nod and walk off while Wortsworth stays at camp and Kass heads off with Rinili to investigate the landmass floating near the camp.

The Princess, Mipha, and Urbosa glide down to the western shore of the lake while Revali takes to the skies to cover them from above.

They make their way to the structure, and Revali spots another Steward Construct near it. The ring around the central object ends in a pair of creature heads emitting light which makes a glyph like the one at the door and the inactive Constructs beneath the Village. The Construct looks directly at him but doesn’t move from it’s spot.

He glances away to find Urbosa and Mipha dispatching some Soldier Constructs. Even from up here he can hear the Princess scold them. Apparently she feels as though she needs to get better at fighting with Link not around. While he admires her tenacity, Hyrule needs her if it is to be rebuilt.

The stairs around the structure are broken in places. Before he can swoop down to offer a lift with his Gale, the Princess starts climbing the structure, grabbing Rushrooms along the way. He smirks, she’s more like that little knight than she knows.

Finally they reach the last set of unbroken stairs and make their way to the structure and Revali sets down near them. They approach the Construct and it beeps a few times.

The Princess speaks to it, “Hello.”

It responds, “Hello. It is satisfactory to see a Rito, Zora, Gerudo, and Hylian traveling together.”

Mipha queries, “How so?”

“Hyrule has not always been unified and a great many years have passed since this place was lifted into the sky. It is good to know that the alliance formed by King Rauru is still intact.”

King Rauru… Why does that name sound familiar?

Revali’s crest rises as he remembers. Mipha had drawn a figure that looked like a humanoid goat with three eyes that she had seen in that demon’s memories. Princess Zelda said it was a Zonai, and that the King of Hyrule during The First Calamity was a Zonai named Rauru.

Princess Zelda asks excitedly, “Wait. This place was lifted into the Sky?”

The Construct answers, “Yes. The Zonai replicated the power used by the Goddess Hylia to create Skyloft. This place was once part of the Great Plateau.”

Princess Zelda’s eyes go wide and gawks for a moment.

Revali breaks the silence, “How come you can speak our language? I thought the other Construct took a moment to learn it.”

“My compatriot transmitted the necessary information to the rest of us on the island.”

Zelda asks, “What is your task?”

“To await one worthy of the Ukouh Shrine’s trial.”

“Ukouh Shrine?”

The Construct waves an arm towards the structure, “This Shrine of Light is the Ukouh Shrine. The Shrines of Light were built to cleanse the land of evil spirits. Inside each shrine is a trial for those worthy. Tell me, what are your names.”

“This is Revali, Mipha, and Urbosa. My name is Zelda.”

The Construct beeps loudly a few times and raises it’s head. “Your name is Zelda?!”

“Yes.”

It extends its hand as it says, “Please, take my hand.”

Zelda complies while Revali reaches a wing to his bow, just in case this automaton tries anything.

It remarks suddenly, “Yes I sense the Power of Light within you. You clearly carry the Blood of the Goddess. However it is… weaker than I thought it would be.”

Zelda sighs, “Yes I… Had to hold back Calamity Ganon for the last 100 years…”

“Say no more.”

It detaches an arm guard from it’s body. It’s the same green and copper color as the Construct, but there’s a large black section.

It hands it to Zelda and says, “Here, take this and put it on your arm.”

“What is it?”

“A device that will allow you to use Zonai powers and technology.”

Before he can even get the warning out of his beak, she puts the arm guard on over her right sleeve. Suddenly a symbol appears on it, a red hand shape!

Princess Zelda remarks, “One of the three powers!”

The Construct explains, “Yes. This is Ultrahand. It allows you to move object freely regardless of their weight. You can also use it to attach different objects together to build whatever you desire.”

Revali asks, “You wouldn’t happen to have more of those would you?”

“I do not. However even if I did it would not be useful to you. Only those with the Power of Light may use this device.”

“Tch.”

The Construct points towards the glyph, “Zelda, touch the glyph and enter the shrine. Use the power of Ultrahand to complete the trial and receive the shrine’s blessing.”

Well this feels annoyingly familiar…

Urbosa remarks, “I take it the Princess has to do this alone.”

The Construct replies, “Yes.”

“Be careful little bird.”

Princess Zelda replies, “I will.”

She touches her hand to the glyph and it disappears. An ethereal green portal materializes on the surface of the central stone. Revali can see some kind of structure inside, with similar architecture as the Zonai ruins on the Sky Islands. Zelda passes through the portal.

Revali unhooks his Slate and materializes a meat skewer, might as well eat while Zelda’s doing whatever asinine puzzles this shrine will challenge her with.