Disclaimer: I don't own Yakitate! Japan/The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild.
If you haven't read "A Princess For A Sword" in the "Trials Of The Wild," I highly suggest you do so since this fic takes place immediately after the events of that one. I hope all of you enjoy reading it!
Warning: BOTW and Yakitate! Japan spoilers, mentions of kidnapping, canon-typical violence mentioned, established pairings including Monica/Kai, Shachioko/Urbosa and Meister/Sidon
Who's Left?
Summary: The champions and bakers argue over who should go after Zelda and who should stay behind.
"Why can't all of us go?" It was Azuma that frowned. "The more the merrier, right?"
Yunobo frowned. "I-I'm not sure if that's the smartest idea. What if Ganon just tries to use that time to try to invade the castle? Or Goron City? Or…" He trailed off, a sigh leaving him. He was never good at speaking up, but he tried. As he glanced at everyone else, he noticed that hey all seemed tense, and wanted to give their fair share of opinions.
Princess Zelda was kidnapped, and they had to go save her…but if everyone went, that would mean leaving the entire castle behind to be attacked, and that probably wasn't good.
"Can't we just get Impa to watch the entire castle?" Shachioko asked. "Other than Link and Urbosa, she knows the princess best."
Riju sighed. "Impa's old and stuck in Kakariko village. I don't think that's a good idea."
"How old is she, anyway?"
"I don't think we should try to ask her that question."
"No offense to the rest of you bakers," Revali huffed, looking around at everyone, 'But none of you bakers would stand a chance against Ganon. Clearly Link, me, Ubosa, Daruk and Mipha should go after Zelda and get her back."
Sidon stared at Revali, tilting his head to the side. "Pardon my interruption, but will all of you last in the desert as is? Champion Urbosa, I'm sure, but are the rest of you able to tolerate the heat?"
"We'll bring charms and clothing suited for the weather." Mipha reassured her brother. "Besides, if we can't defeat Ganon or Yukino, we can at least get Zelda out of there."
Kuroyanagi scanned Daruk, Urbosa, Revali and Mipha. "Are all of you even stealthy enough to get past his minions, assuming that they're guarding the old Yiga hideout and that is actually where Ganon's keeping Zelda?"
Revali glared at him. "What do you take us for, unsophisticated foot soldiers? We can handle this!"
Meister cleared his throat. "Can't we just ask people from Gerudo Town to assist with this? I'm sure we could ask a couple soldiers to help…"
"That's not a bad idea, actually." Riju noted. "I already contacted Buliara earlier to raise security in Gerudo Town in case, but she hasn't reported back to me with anything particular bad yet…"
As the others discussed on about the Yiga hideout, Urbosa tried to think.
Sure, there were obviously going to be minions in the way. If only we could blast them out of the way…wait.
Her eyes widened. "I've got it! I can pilot the Divine Beast!"
"Divine Beast?" Everyone else's eyes snapped towards her as she nodded.
"Yes, Vah Naboris. It should be powerful enough to get rid of any enemies going into the Yiga Clan's hideout. I can pilot it to blast all the enemies away so we have an easier time getting in."
"Okay, so that means Urbosa is necessary for the big rescue plan." Kawachi managed. "And I assume Link is going…?"
Link nodded swiftly. "I should." That was all he said, and Urbosa just hoped he would be alright. She knew that he and Zelda both carried much responsibility on their shoulders for all of Hyrule, after all.
"Okay, the two of you for sure, then…and Mipha, Revali and Daruk, so that's basically all the Champions." Kawachi managed.
Teba looked towards Revali. "Are you sure you're well enough, Master Revali?"
"I'll be fine." Revali managed, looking towards him. "I've healed enough. Besides, I'm sure that if I hadn't been bedridden while Zelda was getting kidnapped, she wouldn't be kidnapped to begin with."
"At least Rito are cold resistant considering where they live." Meister murmured softly, shrugging lightly. "My question is: Is there any way that any of us bakers could…assist in Zelda's rescue? Whether it be by fighting off minions or anything related?"
Urbosa shook her head as she looked towards him. "I believe Zelda would be more upset if any of you bakers got involved." She managed. "She'll be distressed enough with us Champions and Link going after her and having to rescue her. Plus, none of you have as much combat experience as the rest of us, Kai included. No offense."
Suwabara shrugged. "None taken."
He knew that he should be offended, but then again, these people had a hundred years of experience and more. He had much less. Urbosa wasn't wrong.
"Can you at least keep in contact with us about how the mission is going?" Suwabara asked. After all, it would be bad if the Champions disappeared for days on end with no idea whether they made it or not. "Just in case."
"Sounds like a good idea." Daruk agreed immediately. "We've all got Shiekah Slates, so we can send a message whenever we can."
Before anyone else could speak up, Mipha cleared her throat.
"Um…everyone?" Mipha sounded nervous as she peered up at the others from the Shiekah Slate she held. "I just got messages from Zora's Domain…and I'm seeing messages from Gerudo Town, Goron City and Rito Village as well."
"What!?" Everyone immediately checked their own Shiekah Slates for messages.
Rito Village, spotting a swarm of Bokoblins on the way.
Zora's Domain, noticing Lizalfos and Moblins approaching once more.
Goron City, shaking as Taluses started approaching the area.
Gerudo Town, the sand around it filled with Moldugas threaten to swallow anything outside of it whole.
"Is this Ganon's doing!?" Azuma swallowed as he looked up from the Shiekah Slate and up at the others. He noticed everyone's expressions grow tense, especially Teba.
"Rito Village…I have to go back," He breathed, eyes widening. "Saki, Tulin…I have to get back to them, or else…"
"Hold on a second, Teba." Revali's gaze snapped towards him. "We can't just all start rushing off without some sort of plan."
"But– " Teba started, then shook his head. "You're right. Apologies…"
"I understand your concern, though." Riju looked towards him. "I'm worried about the people back in Gerudo Town. I need to head back there for sure."
"And I can't just leave Goron City in the dust, either." Yunobo managed quietly. "I can head back there to check on them."
"Since you don't want us running to the Yiga Clan hideout," Kuroyanagi managed, "Maybe the rest of us bakers can help check in on the other areas and also reinforce them as needed?"
"That…sounds like a safer idea, at least." Kuroyanagi heard Mipha manage. He looked towards her, their eyes met, and he noticed Mipha look away from him as she continued speaking. "It wouldn't be a bad idea for each of those areas to have extra assistance. While we Champions go save Zelda, the rest of you can save the other places."
"But what about the castle itself?" Shachioko asked, tilting his head to the side. "Should at least one or two of us stay back here in case?"
"That's a good idea." Kawachi scratched the back of his head. "Especially if so many of us are splitting up."
Sidon and Meister both looked towards each other quietly as they thought of ways they could help.
They'd been recently exiled from Zora's Domain. Had Zelda not been kidnapped with her needing to be rescued by Link and the other Champions, Sidon was more than sure that Mipha would insist on going to Zora's Domain alone to see what was going on. But with everyone split up and going their separate ways on top of Zelda being kidnapped, well…
Meister seemed to have the same idea, nodding once, and Sidon cleared his throat before speaking up.
"Meister and I can head to Zora's Domain and pilot Vah Ruta." Sidon's gaze scanned the others, and he noticed a few surprised expressions before he fully explained. "I've appeased Vah Ruta before with Link's assistance, so we should be able to pilot Vah Ruta and get rid of any enemies much faster than last time."
"What!?" Everyone else's jaws dropped at that, before Mipha hastily spoke up.
"Are you sure about this? Vah Ruta has only ever responded to me…"
"Actually," Link cleared his throat, "That's not true. As Sidon mentioned earlier, it also responded to me and Sidon when we appeased it together."
"What?" Mipha's gaze darted towards him. "It…did?"
Link nodded, and Sidon smiled lightly as the other kept explaining. He was glad his friend was helping to back him up on this. "Back when all of you were trapped in the Divine Beasts, Mipha, the first one I saved was you. To get into the Divine Beast, I had to appease it with shock arrows, so I rode on Sidon's back through the water while shooting it with the arrows. I also had to appease the other Divine Beasts to get inside them, too, in different ways."
Meister looked towards Link awkwardly. "Do you think Sidon and I might have to do something similar to get in again?"
"Possibly, but…I don't know exactly how it works." Link's nose wrinkled at that. "Sorry."
"It would make sense if you and Sidon went together." Kai managed, looking towards Meister. "Out of all of us bakers, you're better at archery. Plus, you can wield shock arrows in case Vah Ruta needs re-appeasing."
"Agreed." Meister looked towards Mipha as he spoke up. "Out of all of us, Sidon's the fastest swimmer after you since you're both Zora. And you both know Zora's Domain the best out of all us for obvious reasons. Sure, we'd be breaking our exile, but I'm sure the citizens of the Domain won't mind if it means that it saves them."
Sidon couldn't help but crack a smile. "They might run us out of the Domain afterwards, but otherwise I think they'll appreciate the help."
He noticed Mipha frown, and their eyes met this time. Mipha looked uncertain, at first, but then she finally nodded. "Just try not to get caught before you reach Vah Ruta, okay? I don't want either of you getting into too much trouble."
"On the contrary," Sidon gently pointed out, "We're already in exile. We can't get in any more trouble than that."
Since Sidon and Meister were so set on Zora's Domain, Shachioko couldn't help but think about what he could do, or even...Where could he go? Sure, he was technically banned from Gerudo Town, but he didn't know the other places too well. He hadn't been to Rito Village before, and he was pretty sure he wouldn't do well in Goron City against some Taluses, so…
"Can I go to Gerudo Town?" Shachioko asked, looking towards Riju. "I'll wear my vai disguise."
Riju frowned, looking towards him quizzically. "Are you sure your disguise will stay together?"
"You have vai armor, right!? I can fit into that. Maybe."
"I suppose we do have some spare armor we can use from the guards…" Riju trailed off, only for Shachioko to grin.
"That'll do." He noticed Urbosa frowning lightly, before he asked, "Is that a bad idea?"
"Wouldn't it be easier if Monica went along to Gerudo Town instead of you?" Urbosa asked. "If your disguise gets ruined, you'll be run out of town."
"Can they make an exception for a voe that at least helped save the town?"
He noticed her smile lightly. "Maybe."
"If that's the case," Monica cut in, "I'm going to Goron City!"
"What!?" Everyone else stared at her, before Shachioko cleared his throat.
"Uh, Monica…you don't have Flamebreaker armor. You're gonna burn up before you save the city."
She raised a brow. "Can I borrow yours, since you're not going?"
He nodded quickly. "Deal."
That worked. Monica couldn't help but grin, before looking towards Kai. "And you've got Flambreaker Armor too, right Kai? We could go together!"
"That sounds like the best idea." Kai nodded. "Out of all of us, the two of us can handle the heat."
"Oooh." Monica heard Shachioko tease. "I bet you'll both be too hot for those Taluses to handle!"
Cue awkward silence. Shachioko groaned. "I was trying to make a pun there."
"I noticed." Kai muttered, before Monica couldn't help but laugh.
"Not sure if those two are too warm for Taluses to pick up." Daruk scratched his head. He appreciated getting help from Kai and Monica, but still. "Taluses are practically made of rock. They're mostly immune to heat unless they're Frost Taluses…"
Hmm. He counted the newly-forming groups. "Who's gonna go to Rito Village then, anyway?"
"I guess that leaves me, Kawachi and Azuma." Kuroyanagi managed sheepishly, looking between himself and the other two bakers. "But at least one of us should stay back at the castle just in case. Perhaps I can go to Rito Village?"
"Are you gonna be warm enough?" Kawachi asked him, looking towards him with a frown. "It's pretty cold there."
Kuroyanagi nodded quickly. "I have enough money to afford Snowquill armor, so that shouldn't be an issue for me."
"That means you and I will work together then," Teba managed, looking towards Kuroyanagi. "Better make sure you have a spare paraglider ready if you can, too."
Looks like they were all set. Daruk couldn't help but grin. "Looks like we got all our teams set up, then! We can keep in contact with the Shiekah Slates to see how everybody's doing."
"Wait, what?" Daruk noticed Azuma's eyes widen as he looked towards him. "What about me and Kawachi? Are we just staying here?"
Daruk nodded. He noticed the other's face fall, and he offered the little guy a pat on the head. "We'll be back soon, I'm sure about it. Besides, someone's gotta watch over the castle while everyone else is gone."
"Daruk's got a point, Azuma." Kawachi chuckled sheepishly, looking towards the hairband-wearing baker. "We gotta keep watch."
Despite that, Azuma still seemed disappointed. Daruk decided that after he was done helping the other Champions and Link rescue Zelda, he'd give Azuma a prime rock roast to make up for it. That would help lift his spirits, right?
In the end, the group split up as follows:
Link, Revali, Urbosa, Mipha, and Daruk would all head to the Yiga Clan hideout and hopefully find Zelda.
Sidon and Meister would head to Zora's Domain to try to take control of Vah Ruta to get rid of Ganon's minions (and hopefully not get in too much trouble for deliberately breaking their exile).
Shachioko and Riju would head to Gerudo Town to deal with the Moldugas (and hopefully Shachioko wouldn't get his disguise destroyed in the process).
Monica and Kai would head to Goron City with Yunobo to finish off the Taluses (and hopefully not burn up from the heat during the battle).
Kuroyanagi would head to Rito Village with Teba to defend it from the approaching monsters (and hopefully not freeze to death).
And Kawachi and Azuma would stay back and keep an eye on the castle. Just in case.
This would either end spectacularly, or in a fantastic but horrible failure.
Everyone hoped it was the former.