Author's note Here we have the Gerudo reaction to their portion of the will I thought about including extended chapters from the other two races as well but, they are not relevant to the plot so brief mentions instead. Sorry Rito and Goron lovers if you can forgive Link's Awakening for having neither race you can forgive me, too right?

Disclaimer Impa is a Nintendo Ninja and has kindly reminded me that I do not own this franchise and that the legend of Zelda franchise is owned by Nintendo including, the world, races, events, characters, and anything else from that IP. I am in no way affiliated with that company. This is an unlicensed work and is meant to be enjoyed by those who played the breath-taking game/s that inspired it.

Gigantic Optimism Chapter IV The Gerudo Past Time and a Gerudo Past Her Prime.

The day after Link's death preparations began in every corner of Hyrule The Rito in frigid Hebron are gathering bows, targets, and seeking warriors to be competitors an archery contest. The Goron's best foragers are hunting for delectable rocks in Eldin, to honor Link's request for a rock roast feast to be freely offered to all Gorons. In Gerudo town nestled within the Gerudo desert six imposing red-haired women more suitably termed vai were engaged in a debate their collective voices echoing loudly and sharply in the stone building. Cushions were scattered around but only one was occupied with the other five being pushed back from the table after the other vai had arisen en masse. This was an emergency meeting between the five racers who had competed in the previous Cup of the Seven the premiere sand seal race held on a track around the seven statues of the heroines sacred to the tribe. Also in attendance is a representative of the governing body of the sport the Gerudo Sandseal Racing Committee that standardizes the races. The number; of racers was reduced by one, after a large sand beast called a Molduga had devoured one of the traditional six during a supposedly routine training excursion with her sandseal, only two moons prior. Six is always the number of jockeys to prevent the racers from thinking themselves equal with the ancient heroes. "Stop it! You heard the Queen we have to do it and do it right!" thundered Batma (pronounced bought ma as in I bought ma a gift.) her stint as a drill sergeant allowing her to bellow without the customary accompanying red face or bulging veins. Uncustomary was the word for the sandseal breeder the only non-racer present, her red hair streaked with gray no jewelry or make up adorned the bronzed body of the sand seal aficionado and her gruffness was well known among the villagers but, completely foreign to the beasts in her care. "Sandseals do not care if I look good and baubles could be harmful if swallowed so why bother." Was the breeder's usual response to critiques regarding her appearance. The real reason for her humble wardrobe ironically was the staggering amount of rupees she offered to the current fortune telling sandseal.

Most of the other vai failed to look at Batma after her outburst their eyes seeming to dart over her. All except for the one seated this individual with a hawk like nose and jutting jaw in a black tunic and brown vest who was still lounging on her cushion hands in her lap "Thankfully she left or we would all have seen one of those famous electric rages." The words came from the reclined figure slowly like chu-chu jelly from a bottle until "electric rages" here a low timbre had entered the voice and she had turned quickly to Batma Adrenaline was the only stimulant that caused the speaker excitement explaining her love of the dangerous yet, exhilarating sport and a vision of the queen summoning flashing lightning had lifted her mood slightly. Her risks were not always calculated yet if they were, she was a skilled racer whose burgeoning stardom few denied. The others agreed with the seated young woman and joined her at the table unanimously determined to succeed at their task of organizing a grand race in two days. The time constraint is the reason they had been forced to grant the queen's second request that she join them in this ceremonial race by taking the place of the departed racer.

Across the palace where the meeting was taking place a stooped silver-haired vai strode confidently a crown placed atop the long and silky mane the only sign of her doubts the intermittent straightening of the perfectly centered head piece. The queen was on her way to her beloved Sandseal pen just outside of the castle two guards joining her as she entered the main hall. Queeen Riju stopped while the guards did a quick check of the open-air enclosure there was the familiar blue skin of the portly yet fast beast. This breed simply known as the Patricia Standard named after the progenitor of the unassuming animal were faster, and smarter than the typical muted colored Gerudo town variety and had been developed by the queen herself while she was still quite young. Even at that age Riju had been queen there was only one circumstance that resulted in a Gerudo ruler abdicating the throne while still living otherwise it was a lifelong position. Riju had often wished it were not till death but knew that her ancestors would call her when she was worthy to join their ranks and not before, after 80 years she was beginning to wonder if she would ever be ready. She saddled the best sandseal received an update from her trainer on the chosen mount's ability and how to handle it, she then grabbed a shield and set off for the desert temple to check the progress on the new course.

It had been sometime since the queen had drove a seal the shield taking the brunt force of the sand and giving her a smooth ride, she was as comfortable as the beast that was tunneling under the sand. "I need to do this he never shirked from any challenge and now that he has joined the ancestors, he will help me do the same." Besides the queen thought to herself "holding qualifiers for a sixth rider would have been impossible." it was a weak excuse the current Gerudo Champion was always an accomplished sandseal pilot it had been an essential skill during Gannon's first appearance and had gone unneglected in training the next generation. "I just want a last adventure with him." She admitted to herself the only person she ever admitted shortcomings to. Her mind drifted to the will as she headed for the new course.

Dear, Queen Riju.

I have gone on to where all ancestors go and will finally have confirmation that Urbosa is proud of you, her greatest descendant. I wish for the Gerudo to hold a race to the Royal Ice house and back I humbly request six participants the number representing myself, Zelda, and the four champions a group that saved Hyrule twice thus the race shall be two laps. I truly love sandseals and the idea of another race that shall bring joy to your people warms my heart and repays the help every Gerudo gave me on my quest…

The letter had gone on but Riju dwelled on the particulars of the race sure she could do it in time and she was inspired to join the racers upon remembering the unfortunate missing rider. "He will not mine my adding to his idea as long as we are happy, and the race meets his instructions." She was nearing the ice-house now the journey taking five minuets newly carved stone benches lining the way the finish line coming into view currently a rope marking where two pillars would go. "Captain have all the monsters been cleared from this area?" "Your Highness will be pleased to learn that we are now beginning to run a second check for camouflaged animals after clearing the area." The captain hastily responded careful not to perturb her ruler. "Very well, carry on sister." Riju went to the other crew leaders and was busy overseeing the work as the workday ended, she called the captain back. "We need to make it clear that voe will be allowed to watch the race send a courier to Kara Kara bazaar with a message to that affect." It would be nice to see a voe again she was trying to recall the last time she left the walls of the city she ruled that banned men. While a beautiful sight with palm trees flowing water and stone architecture the city was small yet immutable, constant. This was the last order she gave, and she metaphorically wiped the sand from her shield having nothing else to do with the matter. "I need to leave the city more" was the last thing she thought as she drifted off to sleep it was the first night she had not thought of her departed comrade since his death. Riju spent the next day resting and the day before the race working on her speech. The six other participants and their faithful breeder saw to all other preparations including the grooming of their mounts and after two of the busiest days the town had seen the race was ready.

Riju mounted the steps of the Ice-House feeling the coolness waft up from the stairs and cause her old bones to rattle in response taking a deep breath she said a prayer to someone other than Urbosa for the first time in years. "Give me courage and the tenacity you showed as you journeyed across this desert." As, she came out from the store house a guard gave her a blue tunic which she draped as a shawl it was the iconic garb of the Hyrule Champions she began to raise her voice ignoring the tears forming upon donning the cloak. "Welcome all to our desert home it is cold at night and hot in the light this is why sandseals are the perfect creature for this environment their tough skin and blubber protects them from all weather." "I had a friend who knew this well he was one of the few who travelled in both conditions and he began to love the animals this was one of our shared joys." Here the Queen paused waiting for the silence to build " I hope you love them toooo!" elongating the last vowel urging a cheer which she received a long oh drowning out her own exclamation. "The Royal family is proud to allow our ice house to serve as the end point of this race commemorating my friend and his fellow warriors of hyrule. I am proud to be one of the two left who have the distinction of seeing my dear friend Link in battle." Here the crowd started their own cheer unprompted cheer "Link! Link! Link!" Repeating the three part cheer twice more for a grand total of nine times. Riju regained control of the crowd by raising her wrinkled hands slowly. "This race will allow you to cheer on Link and his companions I hope it compares to the sight of my friend slaying beasts amid the hot dessert sands. I give you the Hyrule Champion cup!

The other five racers took the stairs walking towards their mounts each wearing an identical tunic resembling the one Riju wore theirs was different in two ways less noticeable was the white sandseal emblem emblazoned on it rather than the white camel that garnered the traditional Gerudo version of the tunic. Secondly it was a light green this had been Link's favorite color and thus a natural choice for a commemorative uniform. The old Gerudo was pleased with how the jerseys looked upon her best racers and hoped her blue garb was even more dazzling. Each sandseal was tied to a stake a warrior stationed to cut the rope binding every animal simultaneously upon a whistles retort. The only Patricia Standard was the Queen's own prized specimen the others were different shades one was a dazzling white with pink eyes an albino. Riju closed her eyes put her feet on the shield and waited for the whistle holding the bridle loosely the rope completely slack.

"Tweet!" "Hup" was the immediate answer to the whistle's summons leaving the royal lips first. Her lead was not great it was two shield lengths "I will make this short lead as large as Vah Naboris."Crows the queen this was no idle boast ahead there was a small rock jutting out of the sand Riju knew it was there she had an intimate knowledge of the track not known to the others due to their time with the other duties she had assigned them. A red aura followed the queen as her mount gained speed and jumped off the rock gliding down extending her lead. Two others attempted the leap a rider with a gray beast and the albino animal the queen had noticed, they were the only ones on the inside of the track and thus close enough to attempt the queen's gambit. The rider of the gray lost her shield the straps knocked loose by the rock it sped off the precipice cutting the rope tethering the animal to its rider. Lorrue would always remember that fall and those who had not seen it in person doubted the shield had sliced the rope in twain. Then the ashamed rider would point to the odd scars on her feet and would make some believers. She also never forgot how devastating a trick during a race could be. Over the ensuing gasp of the crowd that followed any fall, a sharp laugh was heard "What a rush!" the Albino's rider gave an exultant reaction it was the exact opposite of the heavy grunt Riju gave when she touched terra firma. The three riders on the outside about six shield lengths behind the leaders feverishly strained towards the inside as the first turn was reached. Two of the outsiders began drafting each other going into the straight away making up some ground on the two leaders but themost plodding jockey had lost too much sand on the turn her wide arc causing her to fall behind. As they passed the starting line and completed the first lap the second rider had cut the lead back to two shield lengths and was already heading towards the rock. "Second place fell for it" realized the queen upon seeing the movement of the albino's driver in her peripheral vision.

The rock was not the most advantageous part of the track while it was on the inside the airtime prevented the proper drift going into the turn it was useful for extending a lead not for gaining ground so Riju went to the left of the rock for the best drift. As she took the turn she expected a large thud as her competition jumped when it did not occur she looked back. It was a mistake she heard a "hup" but could not see the opponent due to the sand streaming behind her the Albino soon came into view cutting a diagonal just outside of the Patricia Standard's wake. It was a dangerous maneuver if she hit the Gerudo leader's shield she could push her opponent forward and damage her seal. If the wake shifted directions or the wind picked up, she could be blinded it only worked because of the excellent timing. One shield length now one turn left.

The other two riders were anxious to try the jump, but it put them too far away from the drift they now battled for third knowing on such a short track they would not catch up. Riju had one trick left she urged her sand seal lower in the sand displacing it in a wider arc allowing for a smoother ride and a small surge of speed. The last turn left them neck and neck nothing could be heard over the tumultuous crowd cheering, drenched in sweat, sand particles, clinging to skin hair tunics, wind whistling everything was sharp. There were the pillars the race was decided in an instant the queen's best rider crouched, then leaned forward putting more weight behind the seal and reducing the drag, Riju was very knowledgeable and saw the method but she did not react fast enough age dulling her reflexes and was passed just before they crossed the line. "Sav'aaq vai and voe we have a winner! a rupee prize and this gold sandseal harness are our prizes for this brave winner and her beautiful animal" Riju had resumed her mistress of ceremonies duty after the riders had mounted the steps of the ice house. She bestowed the prizes before completing the address

"What a spectacular ten minuets we have witnessed in addition I would like to award this young vai for her amazing work by inviting her to accompany me to the Hero's funeral at Hyrule Castle Town. What is your name? This was addressed to the winner and said for the crowd it was only her second major race after all. "Karlovaa and it would be my honor your highness." Said the now subdued Gerudo the excitement from the race no longer sustaining the adrenaline obsessed racer with a sharp aquiline nose and protruding chin.

Author's note two, I do not really have anything to say on this section as it is one big action scene, with some character introductions so thank you for reading this I appreciate it very much.

Sincerely 4Coyote.