Later that night - 9 pm
"Ugh, my head hurts," Riju says, finally waking from her restless slumber. "I had this weird dream with a fish lady, and we almost... um did something," Riju catches herself before revealing any more embarrassing details. "But it was all a dream; I'm sure none of it happened, right," Riju questions.
• You assure her that it must have been her overactive imagination.
"Good, I'm happy that I can trust you," Riju responds cheerfully.
"Can I tell you a secret Link. I've always wanted to ride on a train," Riju concedes. "To experience the world and travel through breathtaking scenery. The idea seems simply magical. Unfortunately, my people want to maintain traditional values. Our culture is deeply rooted in nature. The townsfolk believe the train would only disrupt the peace of Gerudo."
The land of Gerudo was everything except peaceful, but Riju's plight seemed genuine. "After everything is back to normal. Let's ride the train together. It'll be just you, me, and the open track," Riju fantasizes. You eagerly accept her tempting offer, providing information for a first-class ticket.
"Oh Link, you've made me the happiest girl in the world," Riju says gleefully. She grips your hands and attempts to pull you out of the tent. "How about a little reward for your troubles," Riju suggests. She begins performing a psychedelic belly dance. The moonlight acts as her spotlight, shining down on the action. "Do you like what you see ostrich boy?" Riju teases. Her confidence is gleaming as she jiggles her hips from side to side. "I'm not nervous around you anymore," Riju says, gyrating her pelvis.
• You test her theory by playfully poking at her belly button.
Riju curls up her torso, noticeably flustered by your constant touching. "Okay, maybe a little bit," Riju giggles.
She takes note of a large wound positioned on the side of your finger. "What happened, are you okay," she says, examining the injury. "That's strange; I have one just like you. I can't imagine this kind of cut coming from a sword. "It would have probably come from a
...Trident."
"Wait, It can't be," Riju says, slowly putting the pieces together. She sprints over to the cooking pot, frantically inspecting the soil. She discovers a set of three holes embedded in the sand.
"It did happen, didn't it. We... we... almost kissed. Why would you lie to me?" Riju says heartbroken. You feel defeated, unworthy of Riju's affection. She takes note of your frustration, rethinking her approach.
"Um... uh... I don't want to do this, but since I feel pity for you
would you like to keep... going." Riju asks in broken English.
• You nod your head, disregarding Mipha's threat.
"I've never kissed anyone before, but I been practicing for quite some time," Riju boasts. "But be honest if it doesn't feel right," Riju says, glancing at you sternly. She undergoes a series of kissing exercises, gurgling listerine, singing the alphabet, etc. "Okay, get over here bird boy," Riju says, her voice trembling. She leans in close, gently draping her arms around your neck. You're mesmerized by her emerald eyes as you run your fingers through her fiery red hair. The cold breeze subsides, and any nearby wildlife disperses. Time nearly stands still for a short time...
• You kiss her
A large firework explodes from behind you. The two of you gently press against each other's lips, in sync with the string of fireworks erupting in the distance. "Did it feel good," Riju inquires. The sensation felt like a chain of fireworks going on inside your head; mimicking the fireworks coming from Gerudo Town.
• You mention the bizarre celebration to Riju.
She freezes when she determines the underlying truth of the matter.
"It isn't a celebration; there guiding my spirit home."
"The red and gold fireworks represent the loss of a chieftain. I witnessed the same spectacle when my mother passed. The people of Gerudo aren't awaiting my return...
they're mourning my death."
"I have to stop this; I can't let this go on any longer," Riju exclaims, rushing towards the village. Come on, let's g-" Riju pauses, suddenly faced with a distressing dilemma. "But you'll be banned from Gerudo; we could never see each other again," Riju worries. Riju is forced to decide between you or the people of Gerudo. She struggles to provide a concrete solution, continuously wavering on her judgment. "What do you want to do?" Riju queries.
• You open up her backpack and unfold a wrinkled blanket.
"Good, I was thinking the same thing," Riju says relieved. "Then it's settled. We'll sleep here tonight, and clear up this whole misunderstanding in the morning."
Riju buries her body under the soft layer of quilt. When you come over to tuck her in, she suddenly tosses the patchwork sheet on top of you. "Let's get some rest together," Riju yawns. You huddle with her under the blanket and stare into the vast midnight sky. The land of Gerudo is brimming with thousands of shining stars and vibrant constellations. You and Riju observe a lone shooting star that stretches across the horizon.
"I wish we could have a happy ending," Riju mutters under her breath.
After the shooting star dissipates in the clouds, Riju quietly drifts off to sleep. As you cradle her petite figure under the covers, you now realize an essential truth. Riju was the beacon of hope you'd been searching for all along. There was no doubt that she was your Silent Princess.
You're about to head off to bed yourself when you hear a faint pair of footsteps grace the desert soil. You initially ignore the quiet trotting, assuming that the commotion was coming from a very obnoxious Hightail lizard. However, the longer that the creature scurries along the gravel, the more unsettling the atmosphere becomes. All of a sudden, the muffled footsteps stop, and an enormous wave of silence fills the air. At this point, you knew that something was wrong. You quickly open your eyes, spotting a Yiga member standing right above you. "It will all be over soon, for judgment day is upon us." The cloaked man says, lifting his sword high in the air and swiftly thrusting downwards...