Chapter XXXIII Various Missions
Disclaimer I do not own Zelda I am just a fan who gets his kicks one unofficial non canon story at a time. All respective aspects of Zelda belong to Nintendo
Zelda is hesitant to wake the giant mass of feathers sprawled on a too tiny hammock. In the center of the purple clump the chest gently rises in time with his steady, peaceful heartbeat. As she often does in her weak moments the queen wishes her duties did not constantly push her towards uncomfortable, or difficult tasks. "Vestus, wake up! Without a word Vestus is quickly standing at attention, he had made an inadvertent squawking noise Zelda ignores the outcry and explains the rude awakening. "A second mogma has delivered another message the shadow sword is gone, the catacomb mission is meaningless we have to find the sword. I am assigning this to our four champions together you can all search I stress this needs to take priority over your other duties, I will also inform Paya to send some scouts into likely areas," I would like to take Bacta to investigate the Yiga clan lair, that seems like the most likely spot, it should be investigated first." Zelda agrees with Vestus' suggestion and commissions him to begin his desired journey to Gerudo desert. Thinking of Lorrue Vestus begins to lift off, unaware he is thinking of the person closet to this new threat.
Lorrue sits outside the cave with the sword in it, previously she had called it her cave, that descriptor no longer fits. She returns ready to encounter the sword again, she steps into the natural chamber and the voice begins to cry out. Lorrue is unsure if it is aloud or in her head for she is always alone with this high pitched melodious voice. "Patient I must be patient, but patient for what. The wretched mortal girl was useless she must be mistaken Gannon could not be dead it was impossible! Lorrue winces at the outburst, shocked to see the sword turn a black the shade of pure onyx. Who is my master girl? "I do not know, the king is born but the identity will remain secret until he is crowned, though perhaps the champions will know my lord. Lorrue did not know the sword's name she had been instructed to address him as my lord. "We shall deal with the Goddess and her chosen champion, this time I will eviscerate them both." "My lord the champions are from each race shall I explain them to you." "Yes while we wait you shall tell me of this land how has it as you claimed narrowly escaped my master's grasp. For then I can make them kneel or fall before me " While she begins her tale Ghirahim realizes he needs some way to corroborate her story he had only her word for how things stood he loathes relying on this mortal.
Dorado is unsure which news was more shocking that his best friend was moving again or that a new threat was present somewhere in Hyrule, though the more pressing matter is the threat. Dorado is making preparations to journey up to the Ancient tech lab where he will meet the Goron champion Jarak, while the scientific knowledge was valuable Dorado had a second reason for interviewing the scientist. She was one of the few who had been in direct contact with Link through all three of his attempts to save Hyrule. Dorado checks his pack again his mother would be mortified if he left any essentials, his map water flask, and champion's attire is safely stored, while he has enough rations for the short trip. Bedecked in his tarpaulin cloak and a zora tunic he leaves glad his trident would serve as walking stick and a weapon of the finest caliber. His instructions from the queen had been clear no one unaware of the mission could be entrusted with the details, Zelda did not want spies or saboteurs to glean what had occurred far below Hyrule. The secrecy had made his sudden departure when Reypha had told him about her impending new assignment decidedly more awkward. Although he was spared the details she would be away on duty.
Jarak was not happy to be working with the brown Zora, whose summons had dragged him from warm comfortable Eldin to this tepid, glorified hill so he could "assist' with interviewing a dotty scientist well past her sheikah expiration date. "We already enlisted her for teleportation help and she could not prepare that for us I doubt she can recall events from master Daruk's time." He was in the middle of the town square, in his champion robe waiting for his companion, lazily he begins to create his shield the curse he had almost as long as he could remember. He had rolled off the side of a mountain trail deployed his barrier and became champion. Daruk's lineage simply became champion when the ability manifested. There had been no competition, or other responsibility expected of him just the title and a giant robotic lizard. Peering from underneath a red bubble that encased only the top of his pear-shaped brow, obscured by tiny little hexagons a small brown figure is approaching the dawdling goron. The brown smudge is descending the hill where the lab sits for Jarak had been told to meet him at the lab not in town. After a discreet lecture on following orders the warriors turned interviewers trudge up the hill, Jarak begrudgingly following the youngster's lead.
The lab is a cluttered place desks shoved anywhere with enough space to support one. There is one clear space a circular hole in one corner Grante is looking into the depression searchingly, focused on the mission Dorado waves signaling a preoccupied Purah. Given a moment the wise old woman, is beside the zora champion in due time. Jarak asks the obvious question before he is even introduced "Why is there a hole in your floor?" While used to the sight Gorons do pipe in hot air through similar apertures that was obviously not the function intended by the lab staff.
"Grante's weapon obsession is coming in handy he is interviewing every Mogma who saw the weapon trying to collect data on it's era and origen, though eyewitness accounts are proving unreliable." Approaching the cavity in the floor she continues to explain Grante's methodology to her guests. " He has been interviewing each Mogma that was posted in the chamber where the sword appeared, asking for a description." "So far it's description has matched a Gerudo broadsword, a Skyloft blade, a scimitar, the swords used by the seven sages, and a blade with golden fringe that even I cannot identify." Grante says becoming a participant in the conversation rather than the subject of it. "They come up through the hole for these interviews? Have they even seen a sword other than that one?" No Jarak the Mogma do not make swords which makes these varied descriptions a puzzling matter indeed, they are more accurate than could be expected of the Mogma." I hope to study them when this is over their eyesight is extremely good for subterranean creatures, typically sight deteriorates in utter black-" As fascinating as this is we need to discover where it went can I ask you some questions about Link's travels?" Dorado states squeezing his interruption into a small gap in the stream of scientific explanations Purah was supplying. Jarak settles by Grante learning all of these descriptions could prove useful and a goron's natural love of metal and minerals was enough of a reason for Jarak to handle that duty himself, plus it would keep him away from the blathering Purah.
Dorado began to ask about the various evil or unsettling locations in which the sword might appear, dishearteningly the locations matched the various searches already performed by Vestus, it was improbable that the capable Rito had missed any evidence of the sword in his travels. "There is one thing that I thought of Link rarely traveled through the Gerudo dessert but there was one location he wanted to revisit but felt it was too dangerous, oh wait I am remembering it wrong, Robbie made him swear not to go back. The place was infested with guardians Robbie was adamant that even ancient weapons would be no guarantee for his safety the Forgotten Temple was what we called it. I should have its location on a map file let me retrieve it. Dorado, ponders the risk surely more of the deadly machines would be rusted away now that was eighty years ago, and Daruk's protection was impenetrable maybe Jark could succeed where Link had failed. Though would anyone sanction such a dangerous mission? And could Jarak be entrusted with it?
Sidon had seen to his royal duties for the day he had marshalled some energy despite the lack of sleep concomitant with a newborn's arrival. "While we can make it through a day the second we retire the exhaustion sets in like an all encompassing fog dreary and mind numbing. The royal was ecstatic though simply knowing that they had brought a life into the world made it all worthwhile, he could tell this was true of Karlovaa as well. Today was the last test for their new guard Reypha, and Karlovaa would soon be her with the little prince to conduct the final interview. Karlovaa had been hesitant at first, "She is good with a sword but gerudo blademasters will put her to shame." With this and other seemingly plausible yet overstated excuses had been offered against every candidate none were good enough for her son, was the belief backing these complaints. Then she had seen Reypha shoot a bow and no more complaints aimed at her combat ability were forthcoming. "No in the tribe can shoot like that, any archery demonstration from her would suffice to quiet the harshest critics. Like yourself Sidon had wanted to add but he had refrained from doing so. Today was the part Sidon was worried over, for Reypha was the best warrior that had volunteered but he knew other things must be considered. When Reypha arrived Karlovaa carefully gives her charge of Seyda by placing him gently in her arms. Tickling the infant Reypha smiles sweetly at the little one who reaches out for the end of her head fin. Karlovaa gives Sidon a look that signifies her approval of the young guard. Karlovaa writes Riju informing her of Reypha's status as the personal guard of Seyda King of the Gerudo thus solidifting Bacta's role as Gerudo Champion a concern of the current Gerudo Regent.
Author's note I had to determine how to characterize Jarak and had rewritten this new role for him a couple times. Also it is a little difficult for me to put myself in the head space of Girahim I just do not like writing him while a fun character I underestimated what writing for a sadistic vain, blood thirsty demon would be like. Which is why my last story was a chapter of pokemon fluff. Honestly if you have never written a cruel villain it makes a good writing exercise, I recommend it. I have a better grasp on both characters now though so writing them might come more smoothly in the future. Sincerely 4Coyote