Chapter 5: Sand Seal & Deliver
After entering Gerudo Town, Ash and Link were introduced to the Chieftain, Riju. She became infatuated with Ash after Link helped the two into a female-only town. "I'm still surprised that you came with the hero from a hundred years ago," Riju awed. Ash, wearing the disguise that allowed him and Link enter the town, and Pikachu, on Riju's shoulder, came down the steps of the palace.
"I did wish that he told me who he was beforehand," Ash admitted. "Of course, he didn't really talk all that much, if at all."
"I wager he'll speak his mind." They reached the marketplace. "I know you and Link would've passed through the marketplace on the way. You'll see all sorts of shops like a mushroom shop with a great variety of mushrooms." Ash and Pikachu saw several different mushrooms: a yellow mushroom, a blue mushroom, an orange mushroom, a large silver mushroom that looked like a turtle shell and a maroon mushroom with part of the cap sliced.
"I'm surprised with the different mushrooms that are here."
"It's easy to decipher each one by color: Sunshrooms are orange, Chillshrooms are blue, Zapshrooms are yellow, Ironshrooms are gray or silver and Razorshrooms are maroon with the sliced portion on it. Individually eaten, they don't do much. However, they become that much more potent when cooked. Sunshrooms keep you warm in the cold, Chillshrooms keep you cool in the heat, Zapshrooms reduce electrocution, Ironshrooms increase your durability and Razorshrooms increase your strength."
"Whoa, those are some powerful mushrooms to have if they have that to help anyone through. A dish with Zapshrooms may lessen the shock of Pikachu's Thunderbolt."
"That's one way to look at it." They moved on to an accessory shop where headwear was present. "Here, you can wear accessories that work similar to the mushrooms, just longer and more permanent." Ash noticed a wig that was available. The wig looked to be blond with a broom-like ponytail held by a headband.
"You've eyed the Desert Voe Headband," another Gerudo addressed.
"It looks wild," Ash admitted.
"There's sapphire in there which helps bear the heat for voe that wander around the deserts or Death Mountain, north of Hyrule Castle," Riju added. Ash nodded as he looked to Pikachu.
("I don't want to wear it,") he denied. Ash and Riju giggled. They left and reached a new place where beds were available.
"This is the Inn where visitors, including Gorons, come by," Riju briefed. "I heard the champion had been alive, though it would've been difficult with the laws governed by the Gerudo."
"You say Gorons as if they're an exception," Ash pointed out.
"See, we Gerudo and the Goron races are a singular-gendered race," Riju pointed out. "Aside from a male born every 100 years, the Gerudo are only female. The Gorons are only male." Ash and Pikachu nodded, understanding the circumstances.
("That seems unfair,") Pikachu squeaked. They journeyed more as Ash noticed two different stocks of wheat on one vendor's table.
"What's with the two different wheats?" he asked.
"One is Hyilan Rice while the other is Tabathan Wheat," Riju clarified. "You can make different foods with it." Ash nodded, an intrigue to experiment. They headed to a vault-like door where Riju knocked. One adult Gerudo peered through a peephole.
"Lady Riju," she greeted. "Are you showing the new vai around?"
"I am," Riju confirmed. The guard left for a second before she opened the door. They entered the new area which looked like an underground storage shelter. "Down here, we keep the tribe safe should anything invade us like Gibdos or a swarm of Moblins."
"Or Vah Naboris if it gets to that point," Ash gulped. They entered what looked to be a classroom.
"Here is the Relationship Classroom. This is where Gerudo are taught about confronting a voe when they seek a relationship outside the walls of the town." The concept made Ash question.
"So, let me get this straight: it's a school that has classes on romance?"
"Correct. In the Relationships Classroom, Pasha teaches her fellow Gerudo on how to properly interact with a voe. When a Gerudo comes of age, they have the option to leave town and the desert itself to search for a voe to love and one day marry." Ash softly whistled to the concept.
"I can definitely imagine Brock wanting to be found by a Gerudo looking for a husband."
"A friend of yours?"
"Yeah… He's quite a sucker for women… and after seeing some of your guards in action, I really don't think its a good idea for him to ask one of your people out." The information made Riju shake her head.
"My, this voe sounds awfully desperate for a vai."
"Believe me, you have no idea…"
("Our friend never stops,") Pikachu sighed. Ash and Riju laughed to Pikachu's reaction.
"Anyways, if your people could leave town to look for a husband," Ash voiced. "I take it your late mom must've done the same thing?" Riju turned her head slightly.
"Not really…" she denied. "My mother did indeed took relationships classes as have I… but the subject of searching for a voe isn't really the same in the case of us chieftains." Ash seemed confused.
"What do you mean?" The question made Riju giggle.
"You'll see soon enough, I assure you. Now come… My kingdom has much more to see." As Ash and Pikachu followed, Riju blushed without the boy she started admiring noticing. 'Though, I wonder… if I really do choose Ash as my voe, will we really have to go through with the sacred ritual the chieftain must do with her voe?' Back outside, the youths came to see brownish seals frolicking in the sands while behind gates. They had elongated protruding tusks from their mouths and mohwaks on their heads "Here are the Sand Seals. They treat the desert sands like water and are great in races." The seals came to the gates and barked happily.
"They're pretty friendly." He petted two of the seals who nuzzled him. One gray seal came to Riju with a ribbon in the mohawk.
"Patricia!" The seal bowed to let Riju pet her.
"That's your Sand Seal?"
"She is. She's been one of my prides since my mother's passing." Ash approached Riju and Patricia, but a growl made Ash back off. "She gets a little testy to voe." Ash and Pikachu sighed. "Anyway, how about we get out and race?"
"We can?" A seal barked to Ash, wanting to go with him.
"This Sand Seal is wishing. I've got Buliara grabbing you some armor that should make it easier to go through the desert. I'll wait with you outside." Watching Riju walk off, Ash and Pikachu seemed amused to her behavior.
"I have a sneaky suspicion that Riju like us," he assumed.
("Not that I mind at all,") Pikachu shrugged. Outside of the walls, Riju had Patricia and the Sand Seal that liked Ash. Before long, Ash and Pikachu emerged, Ash emerging with a leather sash over his chest and torso while wearing a full green gauntlet on his left arm with a shoulder guard and wrist guard. He also wore a gold belt holding up blue trousers that had shin guards. Seeing Ash's new look, Riju whistled.
"Ash, that Desert Voe Armor set looks hot on you," she awed.
"Buliara found some that fit me perfectly," Ash admitted.
"She's my most reliable. Here!" She tossed a gold circular shield with a ruby in the middle. "Sand Seal Racing allows shields to be ridden as sleds. Here's a tether to this Sand Seal while I have Patricia's." Ash looked to the shield and smiled.
"It's like the time I had Bayleef race with me to win a Pokémon Egg that would be my Phanpy. Of course, I had a skateboard instead of a shield." Awed, Riju believed Ash's past.
"Why are you telling me this isn't your first time?" All Ash did was laugh. "Let's get going!" Holding leashes, Patricia and the Sand Seal dragged Riju, Ash and Pikachu through the desert as they rode on the shields. Ash shifted his body before hitting a hill and doing a roll in the air. He landed back on the sand without losing speed. Riju saw the roll, shaking her grinning head. "Showoff…" They rode by a tower as Swellow came flying down. Link requested Swellow from Ash to look out for any issues as he searched for towers and shrines within the desert.
"Swellow!? Is Link okay!?" Swellow cawed to acknowledge Link's condition. Patricia and the other Sand Seal slowed and stopped at the tower as Link came parachuting down with a glider made of strong wood and a cloth. He saw Riju, Ash and Pikachu and arrived. "Link… how's the view?" Link brought out the Sheikan Slate and showed a picture of the desert from atop the tower. "That's a breathtaking view."
"Indeed. The Gerudo Desert holds many secrets… but this is Princess Zelda's champion, so I wouldn't imagine you not uncovering it." Link nodded before Pikachu's ears picked up trouble. From afar, he heard something coming. The Sand Seals became fidgety. "There must be trouble." Link pointed Ash back to the town.
"You want us to return back to Gerudo Town?" Link nodded to Ash's guess. That's when Riju recalled something.
"Pikachu's possibly picking up Moldugas. They're giants and would attack those moving on the ground." This made Ash ponder to the Sand Seals.
"Let's get Patricia and my Sand Seal back to town. Link, you, Swellow and Pikachu can try to attack from above to keep any Molduga away from us." Link nodded to the plan before pressing a few times on the screen. Without warning, he vanished into thin air.
"The Sheikan Slate can teleport Link back to any shrine or tower from what I was told. Still, I believe his glider gave you the idea."
"As a Pokémon Trainer, strategy in battle is second nature."
"Well, your strategy can yield the proper results! Here it comes!" The two got back on their shields and tethers before the Sand Seals dragged them everywhere. A giant fin emerged from underground and came after those escaping. It jumped out, showing a gray fish of epic size with a stone beard-like tusk in the front.
"YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!" The fishy beast slammed the sands and caused a tremor, knocking Ash and Riju off their shields. Ash caught Riju before they fell to the soft sands. Ash saw Riju on top of him. "Are you okay?" Riju looked to Ash, their eyes meeting.
"I think.. so…" Their eyes were stuck with each other. Ash could do something, but their eyes were inching closer. 'By the goddesses, I can see how he's one of a kind. A voe he is… but a voe that… I would want.' Their faces were mere inches apart as the giant fish leaped out again. As it began its descent, it looked like it was about to fall on top of them. Could this be their brief moment of love between human and Gerudo?
TO BE CONTINUED… in 2024.
(Starting Monday, it's AshMas All-Stars along with the last poll. Get ready to vote for the last girl.)