Title Ideas: What's a Val?/Don't You Look Cute/The Fall
The journey to the desert was mostly uneventful. A guy tried to buy his horse, but he refused. The next night the guy was attempting to steal the horse while Link was washing in a small stream. That was short lived as Horsoup bucked him off and proceeded to try and trample him. Won't be seeing that guy ever again. Other than that there was a stray hinox he rode past on Horsoup and the canyon itself trying to fall in on him. So, a good ride if not long.
The people at the stable told him to leave his horse because there was no way Horsoup would be able to traverse the shifting sands. He agreed as long as Horsoup didn't follow him. If the horse thought he could do it, then who was Link to stop him. Luckily, there was another horse that Horsoup seemed to like, so he stayed. The stable workers were happy, but Link warned them that Horsoup was a rowdy boy and would cause trouble if locked up. With that in their minds, he set off.
At the recommendation of the stable hand, he had started his trek as early as he was willing to get up, a few hours before sunrise. It was brutally cold, but his Rito wear took the full brunt of the cold once he was smart enough to put it on. As the sun rose and light warmed the desert, he couldn't get the damn outfit off fast enough. Though, something in his far off memory told him to stay covered or else he get burned by the sun. He always listened to this knowledgeable part of his mind as it hadn't set him astray yet. The heat felt a little less unbearable when he was finished dressing in light but covering clothing.
A speck on the horizon soon turned into a bustling marketplace, but he was only concerned with the pool of crystal clear water and how quickly he could sink into its heavenly depths. People were looking his way, pointing and whispering to each other, as he surfaced. In all his soaking wet glory, he browsed the stalls and bought something called a hydromelon. The woman selling them said the liquid inside could hydrate better than water and he was sold. He actually bought her entire stock. She, and anyone paying attention, was surprised when he tucked each one away in the slate. With the absurdity of his seemingly endless carrying capacity and wallet, the other vendors were quick to offer him deals. He only bought food, much to their disappointment.
Quick to dry in the hot sun, he headed into the only building. As he thought, it turned out to be an inn. The tall, tan women inside were absolutely enthralled by him. He got the feeling they thought he was a woman dressed as he was, but when one offered better desert gear he couldn't complain. The almost sheer fabric breathed in a pleasant way and he would later find it blocked the sun just fine for being mostly see-through. The women, Gerudo the voice told him, giggled as they twirled him. One even braided his hair. When he tried to offer money for the outfit, the fancy looking one told him that she loves dressing up gorgeous Hylian vai and not to worry about that. He mentally promised to repay her somehow.
The next day, new outfit on and looks from the whole market directed his way, he began walking. The heat didn't bother him at all this time and he cracked open a hydromelon just because he wanted to try it. The taste was so good he had to have another. He was munching on the inside as he passed the main gate. A guard inclined her head in his direction, but only smiled. He must be super cute in this outfit. Maybe Sidon will like it.
He was so focused on his daydream that he bumped into a bejeweled Gerudo. She startled, but upon seeing him, gave a wide grin. "Sav'aaq, little vai."
So confused, he could only wave back. The Gerudo's face shifted to exasperation. "Great! You got the last of my free time with that greeting."
Concerned, Link put a hand on her arm. "What's the matter?"
She looked him up and down for a moment, as if deciding this was worth more of her time. Finally, with a sigh, she spoke. "My name is Isha and I manage a shop that specializes in handmade accessories, but I've run out of flint. I need it to make my items. If only I had 10... Just 10... If some kind vai would give me 10 pieces of flint, I could offer a nice reward... I can dream all I want, though... Nothing goes that smoothly in the real world."
He remembers something, but isn't sure. "What kinds of accessories?
"I use rubies, sapphires, and other gems to make accessories. Each gem type has its own power that it can transfer to whoever wears it. There's nothing I can do about not having any flint, though..." That sparked Link's interest.
He fished out a hefty sum of flint and held it out to the Gerudo. "Here's some flint."
"Uh... What?! You're just ... giving these to me?" When he continued to hold them out, she finally excepted. "Sarqso! But... I can't take this all from you with just a sarqso. We hardly know each other, and you've been so nice... The shop's been closed so long, I hardly have any inventory... Oh, of course! Now that I have some flint, I could make a jeweled accessory for you if your interested in something."
Link wasn't expecting a reward, flint being so abundant and all. "I guess tell me about them."
"Rubies have the power to grant cold resistance. Sapphires have the power to grant heat resistance. Topaz has the power to grant electrical resistance." She paused, like she wanted to go on, but didn't. "Which will you have?"
Sidon popped into his mind. "Topaz please."
"Teehee, I thought you might pick that one. Please give me a moment..." She stepped into her store and motioned him to sit. It was a bit later that she came out of the back with a small box. "Brand-new, especially for you! I think it turned out really well! Thanks to you I got the shop running again. So if you ever need an accessory, please come by for a special discount. Just...don't tell my other customers, okay?" She winks and he nods firmly, which makes her giggle.
"Sav'orq!" Isha waves as he walks to the biggest building, hoping the town elder or something will be there. He has to find a way to get close to Naboris.
A higher-pitched voice calls out to him as he steps into the large room at the top of the stairs. "Yet another traveler..." A young girl sits upon a large throne overlooking the room.
"How did you get in here?" He gestures to the large entry and the child laughs. "Funny, funny."
The little girl looks to his hip. He instinctively puts his hand over the slate. "It seems you have something rather interesting there..."
Before he can move, a spear is poised at his chest. "You stand before Lady Riju, chief of the Gerudo! Declare your business, but come no closer!"
"Hold on, Buliara." Riju puts her hand up and the spear is removed. "This one appears to be more than a common traveler. You there, what is your name?"
He bows like he can vaguely remember doing over a hundred years ago. "Link, your highness."
"Link..." She looks pensive. "And what is it you've come all the way here to tell me, Link?"
A quick intake of air to help his nerves. "I can calm Naboris."
The outrage Buliara displays make him want to turn and leave. "You think you have what it takes to subdue something as powerful as a Divine Beast? The only ones who could ever control them were Champions like Lady Urbosa. And all the Champions died in the Calamity 100 years ago."
"Hmm... Buliara, a memory just jumped into my head, something my mother spoke of." The small chief rocks back in forth in thought. "When the Calamity happened, the princess of Hyrule placed a fallen swordsman into a deep sleep. That swordsman, much like our new friend here, was named Link... though it always seemed more legend than fact."
Buliara seems seconds from rolling her eyes. "But, Lady Riju! Do the same stories not say that the Hylian Champion carried a legendary sword? I see no such weapon in this person's care."
"They do indeed... if I recall correctly, it was called the sword that seals the darkness. The princess of Hyrule supposedly hid it away in a forest somewhere." Link stiffens as she points to the slate. "What of the device on this one's hip? 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?"
"I don't remember ever hearing of a Hylian vai among the Champions. Wait a minute..." The taller woman looks him up and down before readying her spear again. "You're a voe!"
"A voe within our walls is a great crime." Riju gives him a sly look. "But a voe who is a champion... Well, we'd never mistreat a friend of Lady Urbosa. And if you're here to help us with Naboris, then we are allies."
He nods and she stares off out the large entrance.
"You saw it on your way to our town. Divine Beast Vah Naboris, cloaked in a massive sandstorm, hurling lighting at any who dare approach. We have to do something to stop it, but we have yet to find any way to appease the Divine Beast on our own." Another look, this one challenging. "If you truly are a Champion, perhaps you will be able to enter Naboris and calm its anger."
"Lady Riju!" Buliara just sounds tired now. "I don't see how you can trust a complete stranger with something as important as this task. Perhaps if this person were first to prove his worth by recovering your stolen Thunder Helm..."
Riju smiles like this was the plan all along. "Ah yes... An interesting suggestion. You see, there is only one thing in all of Hyrule that can withstand the lighting 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. If he truly is a Champion, this should be an easy task for him. Our soldiers can tell you all you need to know about the thieves who stole lady Riju's heirloom." Unaware of the rapidly growing grin of success on the chief's face, Buliara gestures to a smaller doorway. "Head through this arch. It will lead you to the barracks. Then, seek out Captain Teake, and ask for a full report."
Riju waves her hand for him to come over. "Without my heirloom, you'll never be able to approach Naboris. Heh, you know... I take heart in having such a rare visitor as yourself. Lady Urbosa must be looking out for us."
She leans closer. "And such a cute boy at that."
He covers his midriff and hurries from the room, Riju's laughter following him.
He's disgusting. His existence is a fault in the grand design. Murderer. Destroyer. Gluttonous monster.
The tears won't stop. The satisfaction his body feels is overwhelming. He wants to die, but then Zelda would be alone.
And maybe she should be. How can he stop a rampaging beast when he is one himself.
A groan from across the room grabs his attention for the wrong reason. He should want to save lives, but the hunger is never ending. The body is barely breathing and he honestly can't tell if it belongs to a man or a woman. The skin of the stomach is torn, revealing the mouthwatering insides. He wants to fight it, vomit, something! But the smell is too strong. The screams are shrill and last until his hands are pulling out the decadent, juicy, still pumping heart.
Well... not anymore.
