Not the Blight Answer

Blights and arachnophobes are not having an easy time of it tonight.

Much of the Royal Family which was ready to risk death against monsters remained on Vah Medoh. A few people who were able and willing to fight were left behind anyway to help defend Rito Village and the people left behind there. Protesting did not sway Ambi and Leon on their decision to leave Daltus and Jezeldabel behind. Other small kids were left behind so at least they weren't alone. Rusl was left behind as defense/babysitting and watched Leon leave on Vah Medoh with worry. Some of that worry was about less consequential things like how to keep Beth from diving into the water below on a dare.

As the evening wore on Vah Medoh began to circle Hyrule Castle. The support from the Ritos on board and the smaller cannons were going to be much appreciated, Teba felt. Onboard, some of the older cousins were chatting. Their topic of ire: Hazel and Ana.

"They shouldn't have left without us! I mean, I'm good at fighting. Heck, I could probably kill a Blight." Osfala said as he polished the ancient tech bow which he prized. "I bet this Hero guy is going to be smug about it." Sahasrahla's grandson was known to believe awesomeness was a genetic trait, and that he'd inherited it.

"Nah. I bet he's more like Great-Grandfather. He's probably quiet. Handsome but insecure and with flowing golden locks." Cia was picturing someone exactly like the stories, diary entries, and statues. Cia and Lana looked at the panel for Gossip Stone network notifications. "Seriously would it have killed Hazel to take us too? We're way better at fighting than Ana. Ana's nice, it's just, she's too nice."

"There's no reason to believe he's going to be exactly as awesome as Link. We're his descendants!" Osfala's wounded pride at being left behind in favor of Ana made sleep difficult. They'd also been asked to stay on board and let people who could fly check out the status of the Castle. "This hero's probably going to be insufferable and arrogant."

Cia snickered. "Yeah, right. Like you, you mean?" Lana sighed as her sister and cousin traded insults. She called them both over to the panel whenever she spotted an update on Hyrule Castle. King Gustaf lived. They breathed a collective sigh of relief at the good news about their grand-uncle. Osfala then pointed to another picture. He had to keep Lana from impatiently scrolling as she skimmed while everyone else read the details.

Yiga spy named Kishgal with fake sword of Evil's Bane apprehended. King Gustaf in hiding until recovers sufficiently to dodge assassins. False allegations filed by Kishgal against Groose, Aryll, and Ravio removed. Hero with actual sword sighted in Hyrule Castle. and so forth. Most of the threats in the castle were subdued now but there was a warning on the network to prepare arms. They made their bets on what Ravio would be like after they read the note: Found real Master of the Sword that Seals the Darkness is not allied with Yiga. Defected years ago. Please stop trying to kill him.

Osfala bet twenty rupees he was an arrogant show-off and bloodthirsty. Ex-Yiga meant he probably picked up jerkwaddery among other non-talents.

Cia bet thirty rupees he was a soul haunted by past transgressions and guilt. She went on a long tangent about him maybe defecting for love of a lady who died trying to save him or something like that. Lana made a mental note to check if she and her sister were reading the same novels. Maybe find her a new hobby.

Lana bet forty rupees he was exactly like Link.

They were still reading the news when Cia and Lana both looked around at the same time. "Do you sense that Osfala?" Lana asked. She didn't need to ask if Cia sensed it too. They both got spears and bows ready as Osfala looked confused.

Vah Medoh jolted and the machine made a warning cry. Thick darkness began to choke the air. Shouting from the various warriors called out warnings and tactics as magenta shadows whirled in the air with streaks of blue. Tulin and his father took to the air as the Waterblight screamed.

Vah Rudania was parked overlooking Goron City and the long-range weapon debate showed no signs of stopping even as midnight approached. Alarms started being rung when the unmistakable magenta-crimson particles laced the ash-laden air. A massive sphere of darkness slammed into the Divine Beast with a loud boom. That noise which rattled the teeth in Elder Gongoron's skull was followed by many lesser explosions and flashes of light. Elder Gongoron shoved aside several of his brothers to get to the Gossip Network panel to read. Gustaf hadn't been certain if it would be hours or weeks before this happened, but Gongoron was glad he'd listened. The moon was changing color and he wasn't sure how many people would survive the blight.

At least they knew it probably wouldn't be a different element of blight; the heat made fire resistance an absolute requirement for monsters-that-murder out here. Would that hold true for the other blights? Their strategies were tailored to certain champions and battlefields. He cursed when he saw the array of cannons floating in the air above the massive stone salamander. At least it wasn't the Thunderblight.

Sidon was undeniably and incredibly happy Tula wasn't there and also happy she'd got the armor modifications for him. The amber jewelry was starting to crack with how much electricity they'd absorbed. She had worked with the Akkala tech lab to help on her engagement armor's impact absorption. Sidon felt that otherwise, he would be a dead Zora. It didn't help that he kept throwing himself in to defend the other fighters. At least elemental resistance potions for the Gerudo and Hylians were more plentiful. It zipped about the place trading blows with soldiers as everyone struggled to coordinate.

Another thing Sidon was grateful for was his massive bulk. Sidon was a bit taller now than Link's day even if he wasn't King Dorephan big yet. Sidon was maybe the only person even now to tackle and suplex a blight. He slammed the Thunderblight down hard into the water when people started running out of arrows. He hoped getting it wet would dampen the thing's ability to put out a voltage.

It was a bit of a toss-up on whether Vah Rudania or Vah Ruta got the worst challenge.

Minor edit 9/1