Chapter 14 - Gerudo Town
Summary: Mipha ponders her next step, realizing Urbosa's power involved electricity. She finally arrives in Gerudo Town as the next step in reclaiming the last of the four Divine Beasts.
Mipha awoke in the Zora slumber pool and found another female next to her who had just awakened as well.
"Oh! Lady Mipha! I didn't know you were here," said Mei.
"I came to the pool very late," said Mipha. "I hope I didn't disturb you when I did."
"No, no, not at all, Lady Mipha. Forgive me, my name is Mei, and my family and I are delighted that you have returned to us."
"Thank you," said Mipha.
"I only wish my dear father were still alive to see your miraculous return," said Mei. "He would have been so thrilled! My father used to tell me stories about you when I was growing up, about all you did for him and his fellow soldiers, healing them whenever they were injured. His eyes would fill with tears sometimes as he spoke. He said all of the soldiers loved you, Lady Mipha."
"Your father has passed on, then?" said Mipha.
"Yes, one day, when he was on patrol, a Lizalfos shot him with an Electric Arrow," said Mei. "I was told he died instantly. It was the saddest day of my life."
"I'm very sorry about your father, Mei," said Mipha. "I hope we can rid our domain of those horrible creatures soon. But you said your family earlier?"
"Oh, yes, I meant my dear husband Fronk and my two darling little boys Tumbo and Keye," said Mei. "You can find the boys sometimes playing by the fountain near the… oh, but I should probably not speak of that."
"No, it's fine, Mei," said Mipha. "I am honored they built a statue in my memory. But that's wonderful that you have such a nice family. I look forward to meeting them sometime."
"Thank you," said Mei. "And we are all so pleased you calmed Divine Beast Vah Ruta, making us safe again. I gave my family quite a scare not long ago when I lost track of time and stayed too long fishing in Lake Hylia. They worried something must have happened to me, that perhaps I got washed away in one of Ruta's outbursts. I felt terrible when I realized that, but all is well now."
"I'm glad," said Mipha. "Is the fishing that good in Lake Hylia? I don't recall."
"Oh, yes," said Mei. "It's a huge lake and holds quite a variety of tasty fish. My fangs quiver just thinking about them! It's a bit far away, but I love going there. You should visit it if you have the chance, as I'm sure you will enjoy it. There are usually some Lizalfos feeding there, but they don't carry electric weapons and don't bother us in the water as they know we can easily deal with them or outswim them. But forgive me, you must know all about Lizalfos."
"I've dealt with them. And I will visit Lake Hylia when I have a chance," said Mipha. "I don't remember it, but it sounds exciting. I should get up now, though. Say hello to your family for me, and thank you again for your good wishes."
"It has been my honor and pleasure, Lady Mipha," said Mei bowing her head.
Mipha arose from the slumber pool, thinking about her conversation. Mei had suffered the loss of her father because of Ganon's servants. It made her angry again, and she could not wait to rid Hyrule of their evil master and all its followers. At the same time, it reminded her of how deadly electricity was. And somehow, she remembered that Urbosa's talent involved lightning. That did not bode well for dealing with Naboris. She caught a pair of fish for breakfast in the lower domain level, then swam up one of the domain waterfalls and went directly to the throne room to see her father.
"Mipha, darling!" said King Dorephan as he rose and hugged his daughter. "Sidon told me you returned late last night. Have you appeased yet another Divine Beast? All of us are so proud of you! You were not harmed in any way?"
"No, I am fine, Father," said Mipha. "Dr. Robbie's Ancient technology has helped immensely. He has developed some potent weapons to use against the Calamity and its servants. Without them, I doubt I could have been victorious. And I have Daruk's Protection now as well, which can shield me if needed."
"I am happy to hear it," said King Dorephan. "And I shall mention Dr. Robbie to Muzu and Seggin when I see them, to remind them that the Hylians and Sheikah are our allies in this war."
"I also had the most awe-inspiring vision, Father," said Mipha. "I saw the great dragon Farosh, servant of the Goddess Farore. I prayed for courage when I saw it."
"Indeed!" said King Dorephan. "Legends tell of three dragons who serve the three Goddesses and travel Hyrule on occasion. But it is said only those blessed by the Goddess are permitted to behold them. So, that is indeed a good sign."
"I took it as a good omen," said Mipha.
"But are you prepared for the next step, sweetheart? Naboris is deep within the Gerudo Desert, a place that is hot during the day, freezing at night, and with little water. Survival there will be extremely difficult for any Zora. Are you certain you need to free all four of the Divine Beasts?"
"Lady Impa said that I do," said Mipha. "Having come this far, I would hate to confront Ganon only to find the lack of Naboris led to our defeat. This is our only chance, Father. Besides, as I said, I have Daruk's protection now, which can repel attacks, though I have learned it only works three times in a row, then needs time to restore itself. There are also elixirs I can take that can help protect me. But, getting stronger protection against electric attacks would no doubt be useful."
"Yes, electricity is a grave danger to us all," sighed King Dorephan. "Oh, here is Sidon."
"Good morning, Sister," said Sidon. "Forgive me. I was late getting back from breakfast. You were discussing your plans?"
"Yes, we were discussing how I wished I could improve my resistance to electric attacks," said Mipha.
"I have been thinking about that while you were away and had an idea that may help, though I am not certain," said Sidon. "In my travels to the sea, I passed through the Faron Region. It seems lightning storms are quite prevalent there, and I had to travel carefully. But I thought that perhaps the people who live there had developed some measures to deal with lightning since it occurs so often. The Lakeside Stable, in particular, mentioned they are struck by lightning every storm. Look for a young woman who tends to the horses there. I forget her name, but she was the one who told me about it. They must have learned of a way to cope with it. And I also encountered a bard named Kass just south of Lake Calora, who told me of an ancient legend that involves lightning. But I did not understand his song, and was in too much of a hurry to deal with a giant Octorok."
"What did the bard say?" said Mipha.
"When a lost hero calls down lightning from the sky, the monk responds from a giant mound on high," said Sidon. "There was a giant mound nearby. At least it may be worth investigating."
"Yes, I agree," said Mipha. "I don't recall having ever traveled to the Faron region, and perhaps my vision of the dragon Farosh was a sign that I should do so. Yes, I will visit the Faron Region next and seek out this bard as well as investigate the Stable. Thank you, Sidon. But what is this about a giant Octorok? I had not heard about that."
"Your brother bravely took on a giant Octorok in Hateno Bay that was terrorizing the local fishers," said King Dorephan. "The battle did not go exactly as planned, but your brother wounded the creature enough to drive it away, thereby earning the gratitude of all the fishers."
"Yes," laughed Sidon. "It was not the recommended approach to defeating an enemy, but I persevered, and it worked."
"Why? What happened?" said Mipha.
"Sidon was sucked into the beast whole," said King Dorephan. "Then he stabbed the Octorok from the inside until it spat him out and fled."
"Oh, Sidon!" said Mipha. "That was so dangerous! You need to be more careful! But it was also courageous of you."
"It was also very sloppy!" laughed Sidon. "But I've learned how to fight better since then, Sister. Don't worry! And I thought perhaps I could accompany you to the Faron region to help you."
"I appreciate the offer, dear Brother," said Mipha as she smiled at him. "And normally I would be happy to have you join me. But I must travel quickly now using the travel gate abilities of the Sheikah Slate and can only do so alone."
"I see," said Sidon. "Very well, I understand."
"Time is still pressing, and I need to begin my journey. I will use the Sheikah Slate to travel to the Dueling Peaks Stable and work my way south to the Faron Region from there," said Mipha.
"Please be careful," said Sidon. "As I said, lightning storms are quite common there. Take shelter promptly."
"Yes, sweetheart," said King Dorephan. "I have worried about all aspects of your quest, but this one involving electricity worries me more than ever. Please, stay safe."
"I will," said Mipha.
Then Mipha paused, deciding if she should tell them, then decided she should.
"I should let you know that I adjusted Ruta to automatically fire upon Ganon when the other Divine Beasts do so," said Mipha. "She can detect when that happens and act accordingly. So, if somehow I do not make it back, Ruta will be ready to aid Champion Link when the time comes, and I will have done all I could for Hyrule. But believe me, I will try my best to return here safely. I love you both dearly, and we have much catching up to do."
She hugged and kissed both of them goodbye, and the hugs were longer this time. Everyone understood that this was the most dangerous part of her quest so far. Mipha then activated her Sheikah Slate and materialized at the Ha Dahamar Shrine.
The most direct route to her two destinations would be to swim past the bridges in the Squabble River and follow the small water inlet southward to the Hickaly Woods. Then she would have to climb or work her way around Mount Floria to reach both Calora Lake and the Lakeside Stable. Climbing Mount Floria might be difficult, but at least she had Revali's Gale now to help her.
She dove into the Squabble River, then swam under the Little Twin Bridge and south toward Hickaly Woods. The current was against her, but it was not overly powerful, and the river held several tasty varieties of fish. She collected some Mighty Carp, Staminoka Bass, Armored Carp, and Hyrule Bass, all of which would no doubt be valuable to her in the desert. But as she neared the southern end of the small water inlet, the Sheikah Slate began alerting her to the presence of a Shrine.
The Shrine was hidden behind some rocks, which she destroyed with a bomb, revealing the Toto Sah Shrine. The puzzle there was a new one, using an apparatus to align steps, then orient another section first to retrieve a key. But after a few tries, she solved it, collecting the Spirit Orb. Leaving the Shrine, she swam the remaining distance south and then went ashore at the southern end of the inlet, which was fed by a tall waterfall.
The waterfall was tall but too shallow to swim it safely. So, Mipha had to resort to climbing, but first used Revali's Gale to get a head start. Revali's Gale brought her just short of a landing above the waterfall, and it was there she came across a cave blocked with rocks. In her experience, such places were worth exploring, so she bombed the rock wall and discovered some hidden treasure there, including two Sapphires, an Opal, and a Flameblade sword. Nice! From its condition, she could see the cave had been abandoned for many years and been sealed by a rockslide, so she had no qualms about taking what she found.
Mipha emerged from the cave and resumed her climb, the blue sky, and white clouds visible overhead. She paused to rest when there was a chance to do so upon reaching a flat area. And when she reached the top of the first cliff, there was a large tree and another cliff to climb. Again, she used Revali's Gale to get a head start and then climbed onward. When she finally reached the peak of Mount Floria, the view was magnificent!
To the Southwest were lush green palm trees growing amidst colorful red cliffs and beautiful sparkling waterfalls. Despite all the harm it had caused, Ganon had not managed to destroy all the beauty in Hyrule! She couldn't wait to make her way down and dive into the inviting looking water there! Looking further south, you could see the vast Faron Sea with wisps of clouds floating above it. To the north were the rounded peaks that surrounded and sheltered Kakariko Village. And looking beyond that was Death Mountain glowing fiery red off in the distance.
But it was growing late now. Mipha used some wood she was carrying and lit a campfire with the Flameblade, then prepared to settle down for the night. Mount Floria was a beautiful location, and she watched the sky grow darker until she fell asleep.
And then she had another dream or flashback if what she dreamt could be believed.
It was a sunny afternoon at East Reservoir Lake, and she had been swimming with Link.
"That was a nice swim," said Link a bit breathless as he pulled himself onto the northwest pier.
"You're swimming much better," said Mipha as she made her way onto the pier as well. "I think my advice helped. You need to make your hands and feet act more like fins."
"Yes, it did help," said Link as he straightened up. "I need to catch my breath now, though."
"What a funny Hylian expression!" laughed Mipha. "Is your breath swimming away from you?"
"No, no," laughed Link. "It just means I'm breathing too hard until I rest."
"I know what you mean," laughed Mipha. "We say until we fill our gills. Let's sit here together at the edge of the pier while you dry off. It's such a beautiful day, isn't it?"
Mipha sat next to Link, their feet hanging over the edge of the pier dangling into the water. The lake was calm now, peaceful, only some ducks floating quietly nearby. It was a sunny and warm day, the sunlight reflecting off the ice blue cliffs making them glisten.
"How are things going with your appointed knight duties?" said Mipha.
"Finally a bit better," said Link. "The Princess kept trying to escape my company by running into Gerudo Town where I couldn't follow: no Voe admitted. Later Urbosa taught me a trick to disguise myself as a Vai to get by that. But in the meantime, she ran off again, and I only caught up with her barely in time. Three Yiga Clan warriors were hunting her down. I slew one of them, and the other two backed off and left. I think she finally appreciates the value of having me as a guard."
"Oh, that was terrible!" said Mipha. "But you must be happy about her change in manner."
"I'm certainly relieved," said Link. "She was only making my job harder by sneaking away like that. Her father would be furious with me if any harm came to her. Plus, I couldn't bear to see her hurt either. I feel for her after all she has been through. She's had a difficult life with so much expected of her. My heart goes out to her, and I feel like she and I have something in common."
What did he mean by his heart goes out to her? Was her fear of Link developing feelings for Princess Zelda coming true now? She suddenly felt so empty inside! She stared out at the water, not knowing what to say. But for once Link seemed to sense her mood.
"But it's great to have some time off to come here," said Link. "I'm always happiest when I'm here with you, even if you end up showing me how bad a swimmer I am!"
Mipha laughed, and then Link smiled at her. He had such a cute smile when he chose to show it!
"That's better," said Link. "I'm with her because I have to. I'm with you because I want to."
And then she suddenly didn't feel quite so empty anymore.
Then the dream ended.
When Mipha awoke, she thought about her dream. Link had expressed some feelings for her, that he came to see here because he wanted to. And she had feelings for him as well, being jealous of Zelda. But this memory, even if true, was a long time ago. It occurred at a time Link and the Princess were just beginning to get along. Who knew what happened between the two of them since? Anyway, she did not have time to think about that now.
It was time to make her way down toward Lake Floria. But as she began making her way toward Floria Springs, once again, the great dragon Farosh emerged from the waters and flew across the land toward Rassla Lake in the distance. It was impressive how grand the dragon was, though Mipha noticed the balls of electricity that it threw off as it flew.
After the dragon finished its flight, she made her way down to Floria Springs, and her Sheikah Slate began indicating the presence of a nearby Shrine, which turned out to be behind a waterfall below Riola Spring, the Shoda Sah Shrine. The puzzle was a simple one involving timing the launching of orbs into receptacles, and she quickly obtained the Spirit Orb. Then she continued to the southeast and across the small Calora Lake.
The water was delightful, and the waterfalls even more beautiful closeup. Mipha would have loved to explore this area and enjoy swimming up each waterfall. Perhaps someday she could return here and do so. But now she had to press on and find the bard that her brother had told her about. She hoped he was still here.
After passing Calora Lake and swimming up a waterfall to a small plateau, a lightning storm formed, and she was quick to remove all her metal armament. Between earth-shaking peals of thunder and flashes of lightning, she could hear a musical instrument playing in the distance, and using its sound as a guide, she headed in its direction. Eventually, she could make out a Rito playing the accordion and approached him. He seemed quite startled to see her, not realizing she had made her way there by swimming up waterfalls, not trying to climb in the rain.
"Very impressive. Not many could make it up here in such rain," said Kass, who suddenly noticed her Sheikah Slate. "Th-that there … on your hip! … No, I'm sorry—it's nothing. I didn't mean to pry."
Kass went on to explain he was traveling the land in search of ancient songs that sing the praises of a hero that beat back the Calamity in an age past. He then volunteered a song about this place, which was the verse Sidon had already told her. It was clear where the mound was, and it only remained to call lightning down. That was simply done by using a metal weapon, and after a lightning strike destroyed the mound, the Qukah Nata Shrine revealed itself. There was no puzzle to solve, and she was rewarded with Rubber Tights and another Spirit Orb.
So, Sidon's hunch proved correct, and she now had the Rubber Tights to go with her Rubber Armor. She was making progress, and it was time to visit Lakeside Stable.
Lakeside Stable was on the western edge of Lake Floria, and she decided to swim there and then climb up the other side. When she reached the stable, her Sheikah Slate alerted her to yet another Shrine, this one hidden behind some rocks, the Shai Utoh Shrine. The puzzle was a simple one using Stasis to manipulate some platforms. After completing it, she walked back to the stable and met Beadle once again. She purchased some arrows, then spoke to some of the people who were staying there.
The person Sidon had told her about was named Cima, and she found her tending to the horses. Cima asked for her help to determine why the Stable was struck by lightning so often. Using Revali's Gale to investigate, it was clear what the problem was. Someone had planted a metal axe in the stable roof. Retrieving it and explaining it to Cima resulted in her giving Mipha a Rubber Helm as a reward. Now she had a complete Rubber outfit that she would need to upgrade.
Exploring the area around the stable and breaking some of the crates revealed some new and useful fruits: Mighty Bananas, Voltfruit and Hydromelon.
The Faron Sheikah Tower was nearby, and Mipha thought it would be useful to activate it. The path there was above and alongside the Floria River, and throughout this region, there were very ancient columns or sculptures that had long since been heavily worn by the weather.
After reaching the Faron Tower, she could see an Electric Wizzrobe doing its merry dance. She needed to be wary of it, but waiting until it noticed her, she froze it with an Ice Arrow, then attacked it with her spear. She repeated the process once more, and the Wizzrobe could do its merry dance in whatever hereafter it went to. There was an annoying colony of Keese flying about, but she dispersed them with another Ice Arrow before climbing to the top of the tower and activating it. She thought this might be a useful transport location and lookout spot.
She could see two Lizalfos excited over something on the nearby plateau. Gliding over to them, she quickly dispatched both with Ice Arrows and a stab, then collected another useful fruit: Hearty Durian. She harvested several more at the nearby trees, then decided it would be wise to upgrade her newly acquired Rubber outfit now.
The Great Fairy she was most familiar with was the one by Kakariko VIllage, and that is where she headed next via the travel gate to the nearby Shrine. But the Great Fairy told her she could only upgrade the Rubber outfit one level. She would need more Voltfruit and Electric Chu-Chu's to reach level two. Given the issues with Paya, she did not want to visit Kakariko Village at this point, so instead, she headed for Outskirt Stable via the Rota Ooh Shrine. She could spend the night there, retrieve Sandy from the Stable in the morning, then begin the long ride to the Gerudo Canyon Stable. But things were progressing well, she thought, particularly concerning the Rubber attire.
Extract from Mipha's Journal - #18
I must thank my brother for the idea of journeying to the Faron Region, and I give thanks to Goddess Farore for the vision of her servant that was also a sign I should come here. Thanks to this visit, I have acquired additional protection against electrical attacks, something which may prove crucial to my survival. I hope to upgrade the rubber outfit when I recover enough of the right materials. I will sleep here at the Outskirt Stable and begin my journey to Gerudo Town tomorrow. I had another dream or flashback of a time I spent with Champion Link. I am beginning to realize how special he was to me once, or perhaps we were to each other. Will he ever be so again? I also had another vision of the great dragon Farosh, and I pray I will have courage when I need it.
The next morning Mipha ate one of the fish she had stored, then retrieved Sandy from the Stable and began the ride south toward the Gerudo Canyon. The first part of the trip took her along a grassy road alongside tall grey stone cliffs. Then the cliffs in the distance turned a shade of orange as she approached Dig Dogg Bridge. Some Moblins and Bokoblins were there, but she rode past them quickly. Her goal was to avoid unnecessary combat and reach her objective as soon as possible. She awoke a fat ugly Hinox as she crossed the bridge but raced on. On the area past the bridge, there was a pair of Bokoblins on horseback who did not have the sense to leave her alone. So, she had to finish off both of them with Ice Arrows. Good riddance!
The southern end of the bridge marked the beginning of the trail that wound through the Gerudo Canyon, and tall red cliffs hugged both sides of the road. There were few travelers and no further enemies along this lonely stretch of road, but one needed to watch out for the occasional boulder that rolled onto down from above. The path was quite scenic in a harsh sort of way, as the road passed under some massive natural stone archways.
As she continued, you could begin to see wooden scaffolding along the cliff face, evidence of some excavation that had taken place. Mipha assumed it was related to the search for Divine Beast Vah Naboris just as she recalled the search for Ruta. Continuing further, she began to encounter evidence of civilization, glowing orange lamps that marked the trail and archways cut into the stone above the road. She petted Sandy now and then to soothe her, and she felt they were making good progress.
After rounding a turn, she reached a spot where some giant boulders blocked the road, making it impossible to proceed on horseback. She dismounted and was about to use Stasis to clear them one-by-one when she noticed that one of the objects was metallic. Using Magnesis, she used the metal boulder to move the stone boulders and make a path. She then remounted Sandy and continued.
The weather was sunny, and the sky blue as she continued past further evidence of excavation. As the sun began to sink in the west, shadows played across the faces of the cliffs. It was early evening when the Gerudo Canyon Stable finally came into view, and time for both her and Sandy to rest.
"I need to travel on my own by foot now, Sandy," said Mipha after dismounting and feeding Sandy a pair of Endura Carrots. "The stable here will take good care of you until it is time for us to ride again. You're a wonderful horse! Now relax and enjoy some time off."
She finished boarding Sandy, but her Sheikah Slate had been indicating all this time that a Shrine was nearby. It turned out to be on a small plateau above the stable, which she climbed up to. The Shrine itself, the Kay Noh Shrine, involved using electrically charged components to power some machinery. There was a pair of Guadian Scouts within the Shrine she also needed to deal with, but they presented no great difficulty. And after completing the Shrine and collecting another Spirit Orb, she plunged into the pool of water surrounding the Shrine. It felt good to be back in the water, and she decided to rest there for the night. First thing in the morning, before the sun made the day too hot, she planned to journey to the Kara Kara Bazaar and then on to Gerudo Town.
The next morning she ate a pair of fish she had stored in the Sheikah Slate, then began her walk to the Kara Kara Bazaar. The sand made walking more difficult, but she kept to the main path and a steady pace. It was still early, and the sun not yet too strong, though the dry air was making it difficult for her. It took a bit over two hours to walk from the stable to the Kara Kara Bazaar, and it was on the way there she got her first glimpse of Divine Beast Naboris and the sandstorm it created.
Naboris was in the shape of a giant camel, with large glowing purple feet that it planted with a crash into the sandy ground as it walked. Lightning crackled every so often from it, and of all the Divine Beasts, it looked the most intimidating to her.
By the time she reached the Kara Kara Bazaar, the dry air had already grown hot, and she realized she would need to use some elixirs for the rest of her trip. Right now, though, she wanted nothing more than to plunge into the inviting pool of water nearby that formed the center of this oasis. A Gerudo Guard named Ripp greeted her as she approached.
"Sav'otta! This is Kara Kara Bazaar. Gerudo Town is still a fair distance southwest of here. If you're heading there, you should consider resting a bit. All the same, the Divine Beast is kicking up a storm right now, so I don't recommend going to Gerudo Town. The sun is really starting to beat down on us now…The desert is incredibly hot so long as the sun is blazing down on it. Be sure to keep yourself cool as you travel."
Mipha took her advice and dove straight into the water. Water never felt so good as it did after that long walk through the hot desert sand! The hot, dry air had taken a toll on her, and she needed this water time to refresh her body. She would need to drink some Chilly Elixir for the trek to Gerudo Town.
As she floated in the water, she looked around the Bazaar. Several small stalls circled the water where Gerudo merchants sat selling their wares. There was also a small inn where one could stay for the night. And the entire area was surrounded by tall thin palm trees whose fronds would rustle and click when blown by the occasional breeze. After resting for an hour and eating another fish, Mipha felt she was ready to proceed. She downed a Chilly Elixir made from Winterwing Butterflies collected near Rito Village plus some monster parts, and then she headed off.
Gerudo Town shimmered in the distance as the heat from the desert sand rippled the air. Mipha made slow but steady progress, keeping to the path and avoiding any monsters camps she saw along the way. She came across a cactus and collected three more Voltfruits. She could also make out the orange glow of an unfinished Shrine near the town. A Gerudo traveler past her on the road, and she ignored a camouflaged Lizalfos to her left as she neared the town entrance. Then she made her way first to the Daqo Chisay Shrine to establish a travel gate and a fast way to return. She decided she could complete the Shrine later, but now she needed to refresh herself inside the town.
Two guards stood at the entrance to Gerudo Town, and as she approached, the guards did not stop her as much as converse with her, registering their surprise.
"Excuse me, are you a Zora?" said the one guard. "I never met a Zora before and thought one could never survive here."
"I am indeed a Zora," said Mipha. "And it is difficult for me to survive here but not impossible. I make use of bodies of water wherever I can find them."
"I am impressed! But I would imagine only some great need would make you undertake such a hazardous journey," said the second guard, perhaps trying to learn the purpose of her visit.
"I am here to see the Gerudo Chief about Divine Beast Vah Naboris," said Mipha.
"About Naboris? A Zora? Well, I will admit Chief Riju, and any of us, for that matter, would welcome whatever help we can find concerning Naboris. That beast is a terror! But you will need to deal with the palace guards about gaining admittance to see our Chief. In any case, welcome, sister, and enjoy your stay."
It was afternoon by now, and the extensive water that flowed throughout the town moderated the temperature inside the town walls, so Mipha no longer felt the extreme heat. Gerudo Town was much larger and more mercantile than the domain. There was an inn where a greeter beckoned to passers-by. And there were a variety of shops on both sides of the inner courtyard selling jewelry, fruits, meat, vegetables, clothing, and arrows. She could see some Gorons, a Rito, and a Hylian as visitors there, people who had made the arduous journey despite the threat of Naboris. Taking a brief walk, she noticed that in the outer portion of the town, there was a bar, library, classroom, and soldier barracks. It would be interesting to explore the town further, but she needed to make progress, and the day was passing by.
After taking a moment to refresh herself in the water, Mipha made her way to the palace entrance.
The guard admitted her with a warning to be civil, and so Mipha made her way toward the throne where the Gerudo Chief sat.
Mipha did not know what to expect of the Gerudo Chief. The only Gerudo she knew from flashbacks was Urbosa. But her first impression of Chief Riju was that she looked like a child compared with the Gerudo guards she had met and Lady Urbosa herself. Riju wore part of her long red hair in a bun held in place with a golden crown of sorts, a striking contrast to her bright green eyes.
"You stand before Lady Riju, Chief of the Gerudo!" said Buliara, Chief Riju's assistant. "Declare your business, but come no closer!"
But Riju had noticed the Sheikah Slate Mipha carried on her belt. It seemed to Mipha that most leaders were aware of the device somehow.
"Hold on, Buliara," said Riju. "This one appears to be more than a common traveler. You there — what is your name?"
Mipha gave her name.
"Mipha… And what is it you've come all this way to tell me, Mipha?" said Riju.
"I can calm Naboris," said Mipha.
"You think you have what it takes to subdue something so powerful as a Divine Beast?" said Buliara incredulously. "The only ones who could ever control them were Champions like Lady Urbosa. And all of the Champions died in the Calamity 100 years ago."
"Hmm…Buliara, a memory just popped into my head—something my mother spoke of. When the Calamity happened, the Sheikah placed a fallen Champion into a deep sleep. That Champion, much like our new friend here, was named Mipha…though it always seemed more legend than fact."
"Lady Riju, I am that same Mipha," said Mipha. "I was asleep for the past 100 years. But I have helped to appease Divine Beasts Ruta, Rudania, and Medoh. And I believe I can appease Naboris as well."
Buliara looked startled but also skeptical, wary of strangers. She had learned how cunning the Yiga Clan could be and did not trust outsiders.
"Lady Riju, how can we trust a stranger claiming to be a lost Champion?" said Buliara.
"But what of the device on this person's hip?" said Riju. "It appears to be a precious relic of the Sheikah. I can't imagine they would give something so valuable to a simple drifter — can you?"
"Lady Riju, I don't know how you can trust a complete stranger with something as important as this task," said Buliara. "Perhaps if this person were first to prove her worth by your stolen Thunder Helm…"
"Ah, yes…an interesting suggestion," said Riju. "You see, there is only one thing in all of Hyrule that can withstand the lightning from Naboris. The Thunder Helm, a family heirloom and relic of the Gerudo. But as Buliara says, it was stolen from us."
"You needn't worry, Lady Riju," said Buliara. "If she truly is a Champion, this should be an easy task for her. The soldiers can tell you all you need to know about the thieves who stole Lady Riju's heirloom. Head through this arch. It will lead you to the barracks. Then seek out Captain Teake, and ask for a full report."
"Without my heirloom, you will never be able to approach Naboris," said Riju. "Heh, you know, I take heart in having such a rare visitor as yourself. Lady Urbosa must be looking out for us."
It was clear Mipha would need to recover this heirloom to make any progress. She did as Buliara instructed, and after speaking to the soldiers, learned the thieves had their hideout in the Karusa Valley. But to top matters off, one of the soldiers was missing after scouting out the area.
By now, it was late in the day, and she needed to be at her best. She made her way to the inn and booked a bed for the night. Tomorrow she would attempt to recover the precious Thunder Helm from the dreaded Yiga Clan.
Extract from Mipha's Journal - #19
I met the Gerudo Chief, and she is just a child, though she carries herself well. Her advisor was distrustful of me and anxious for me to prove my worth by recovering their lost heirloom, skeptical of my ability. I can't say I blame her. I look nothing like the formidable warriors of the Gerudo, and seeing a water-based being here in the desert must strike them as ridiculous. But it became clear that the heirloom is needed to have any hope of appeasing Naboris. Tomorrow I will journey to the Karusa Valley and attempt to recover this precious heirloom. As always, I pray to the Goddess for help.