Note: Tests are finally over which means more writing! Can't wait to finally make some progress with the story in the way that I wanted to. Enjoy the chapter and Happy Holidays!

Chapter 21: Vah Naboris

Within minutes, they made it to Vah Naboris and much like the other Divine beasts, it sat silently and motionless. Luckily, it had powered down into a seated position making it easier to enter it. Riju led the way inside and brought them to the main terminal where Zelda was able to start her usual ritual. By the third time, it had become easy for her, she was able to easily reach through the divine beast with the tendrils formed by her power. The familiar blue glow temporarily shifted to gold and then back to blue again causing the beast to shift slightly before coming to another seated stop.

The Sheikah Slate chimed in as it had two times before and presented a message on its screen, Vah Naboris positioning complete. 1/4 Divine Beasts remain for access. It was both reassuring and daunting, they were one step closer but she wasn't sure what exactly they were stepping towards. Hanging the slate back on her hip, she turned back to her friends.

"Well, Vah Naboris is restored, however, it won't respond to your control for the time being." Said Zelda

"If we're lucky we won't need it for a long time." Replied Urbosa

The two shared a knowing look, Urbosa had faced against a tough blight during the calamity and the divine beast probably brought up memories of their battles. Noting the silence, Riju spoke up to break them from their thoughts.

"Could we stay here in Vah Naboris? Just like we used to, at least just for one night?"

Urbosa cast a glance over to Zelda, "I wouldn't mind it, for old time's sake." Zelda smiled.

As if on cue, Link got back into his familiar rhythm and began to set up everything for the night.

The three women were seated around the fire talking lightly, Link stood off to the side practicing with his sword. He was never really good at small talk and he felt more awkward just sitting there silently, the swordplay gave him an excuse to step away. He traced fluid motions through the air, mostly practicing his form over his strength. Raising the Master Sword to his face, he stared into his reflection in the blade. Unsure of what he was looking for he set it down again. Riju's voice brought him back to focus on his surroundings.

"Link?" She asked again.

"Hm?" he replied turning to look at the three of them staring at him.

"Sit with us." She said.

He did as he was told but with a questioning look on his face nonetheless. Even Riju technically outranked him although she never flaunted it that way.

"Zelda was telling us that you've apparently been on all kinds of adventures, but you haven't told her about any. So… tell us, where have you been?" She explained.

Link stared at her blankly before Urbosa chimed in.

"You could start with telling us where you got that Vai outfit."

"There was a man in Kara Kara Bazaar who dressed as a woman. I convinced him to sell me a set so I could get into Gerudo Town." He replied.

"And why did you need to get into the city?" Zelda asked.

"I needed info on a few of the shrines in the desert, and there was also a Gerudo woman passed out on one of the shrines not letting me get in so I had to get her help."

"That was you?" Riju asked, "Our guards told us about a Hylian vai that had found the her." Link nodded in reply leaving a dead air between them.

"Well.." Urbosa spoke up, "What else did you do in your travels?"

Link looked into the fire but just shrugged. It was Zelda's turn to speak up this time.

"Could you tell us about the interesting ones?"

"There was a woman who wouldn't let me into the shrine until I showed her pictures of some guardians." He replied.

"Oh, you mean the princess?" Urbosa teased.

"Hey!" Zelda said, giving Urbosa a cross look.

"Or the crazy flower woman." Link continued.

"What else?" Riju asked.

"Uh… the 2 hidden inside the mazes were interesting too."

"But which was the most interesting?" Zelda asked again, Urbosa was finally settling down from her laughter.

Link thought for a while before speaking up again, "I guess there was the Sheikah Heirloom, I found out one of the Sheikah had left the Yiga clan and got into some trouble over the orb in Impa's home."

The last one certainly surprised them, probably since the Yiga clan hit closer to home for Riju and Urbosa. However, it was still Zelda that spoke up before the other two.

"Was one of the Sheikah really a Yiga defector? I wonder if Impa knew about it him."

"I don't know," Link shrugged, "The man wants to change, I didn't think it was my place to pry."

There was an awkward silence between them again, why couldn't he just be comfortable talking to them. It was probably because he wasn't sure how professional he was supposed to act around them, despite them being his friends.

"And what's the strongest thing you've fought? Apart from Ganon obviously." Riju asked.

"Well, Ganon wasn't all that difficult, Princess Zelda did most of the work." He said causing Zelda to blush slightly, "Gold Lynels were much smarter."

"You did seem to struggle a bit against Sidon and Mipha." Zelda said once she regained her composure.

"Oh did you?" Riju replied, an idea already forming in her head, "I bet that you would struggle even more against my mother."

Urbosa and Link shared a look before she stood up.

"Well, no harm in a friendly spar. I'd also like to know what qualifies you as the Princesses appointed knight." Urbosa said.

Link looked from her to Zelda, who gave him a nod. Urbosa was already standing and unsheathing her scimitar.

"Any rules?" Urbosa asked

"No." He replied.

"First to surrender then?"

Link nodded.

Urbosa was outfitted with the Scimitar of the Seven and Dawnbreaker against Link with the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. He immediately began sizing her up, she was taller than him but not as tall as Sidon meaning that range wasn't as big of an issue. Weapon choice also meant she had to remain somewhat close. He didn't know much else about her fighting style however, so he'd have to play it by ear.

Urbosa spun her sword in hand once before lunging at him and attacking with diagonal slices. Link barely sidestepped in time to avoid them. She doubled down and kept closing the distance trying not to give Link a chance. However, she did have an opening, her shield arm hung low and left her shoulder open. A shield that small wouldn't be enough to cover a woman of her size. She continued swiping at him, bringing the sword down vertically towards his head. He brought up his shield to deflect her blow off to his left while swinging the sword towards her shoulder.

The one thing he didn't anticipate was her speed, she was lightning fast as she brought her shield up to parry his sword. He took the bait and she took advantage by delivering a punch with her shield straight towards his chest. Link was able to get his shield up in front of him but her strength still sent him tumbling backwards. Quickly rolling back onto his feet, he got back into his ready stance as she was already swinging for him again.

He brought his shield up to block her again but rather than swing she drove the knuckle guard of her sword into a straight jab. She relentlessly hammered down on his shield trying to wear him down and he felt his left shoulder starting to get sore from blocking the blows. Before he could think of a viable counter, she kicked him square in the chest and pushed him away about a meter, but he was able to stay on his feet.

Link's mind raced as he tried to analyze her fighting, he only had a few seconds before she was on him again. She fought with everything she had, the sword and shield were only distractions, or tools at best. He would have to play her game in order to deliver any blows, she was too fast and would see a sword swing coming in before he could land one. He hatched a plan that might work but it would be tricky since he had never fought using that style before.

It was too late to change his mind, she was on him again and was already swinging the sword down onto him again. Switching over to his instincts, he flipped the master sword into a reverse grip and bought the blade up to deflect hers. He took the opening to copy her shield bash aiming for her front leg. She countered it with a bash of her own that landed on his shoulder and left a stinging pain. It didn't work, but it got him one step closer so he had to try again.

Before she could make the next move, he swiped as best as he could with his sword still in reverse grip. He continued the swipe into a full-body twist and used his shield to deliver a back hand shot. Landing it on her sword hand sent her scimitar flying out of her grip. However, Urbosa was seemingly unfazed. She clenched her empty hand into a fist and quickly delivered a hook in his direction. Link ducked under her arm and finally found the opening he needed.

Time almost slowed for him as he returned fire with a flurry of attacks, the first landing on her leg where he'd hit her the first time. Knocking her off balance and bringing her down onto one knee. Although her minimal armor gave her more mobility, the modified breastplate left her abdomen exposed. He drove the pommel of his sword right below her sternum, successfully knocking the wind out of her. Quickly recovering from his last shot, he lunged forward, forearm and blade first stopping right before her neck.