Chapter 7: Hiding Out in the Hideout
It's the new day for Link, Ash and Pikachu. They woke from the inn inside Gerudo Town. They left before stepping out of the town to change. Back to some of their attire, they soon found Riju and Buliara joining them. "Are you two ready to go?" asked Buliara. Pikachu felt left out.
("Don't I count?") argued Pikachu. Buliara petted Pikachu.
"Forgive me," she apologized with a smile behind her mask. "You as well." She backed off after seeing Pikachu smiling.
"We have the idea of where to go," Ash pointed out.
"The Yiga Clan won't make it easy since they can be ruthless," Riju warned. "Of course, you three are entering enemy territory."
"Knowing about Pokémon that are territorial, it's a caution we'll heed when it comes to the Yiga Clan," Ash acknowledged.
"I trust you on that," Riju hoped. "Don't forget, the Blood Moon is coming soon." Link nodded to the warning. They took off and headed north toward the Gerudo Summit. It was only a day since they battled and defeated a Molduga. Link showed Ash a map with more land showing. Quickly, he realized that they're passing by the stable where Link dropped Epona off.
"I suppose you want to stop by and check on Epona?" he asked. Link shook his head. "Okay, just telling me about where we're passing." They journeyed through the sands as they came across more Lizalfos with some goblin-like cratures with pig snouts. Ash used the Frostblade to attack the fiendish lizards while one swiped at Link with the boomerang-like sword. He did a backflip, avoiding the blade. When he landed, he slashed at the Lizalfos several times in a couple of seconds. The Lizalfos fell. Ash parried several strikes from the pig-nosed goblin-like creatures before returning a strike that killed them. As the battle continued, Ash struck another Lizalfos, but the blade shattered. The Lizalfos flew far back, but Ash was left holding the hilt. Link kicked two of the boomerang blades to Ash as the Lizalfos returned. "Thanks!" Picking up the blades, Ash held one in each hand. He turned one of the short swords around as the Lizalfos swung its sword-like horn. Ash caught the horn, spinning from the force and slashing at the neck, strking down the enemy before he poofed. A few more minutes passed before the enemies were gone. Ash fell to a knee before Link offered a green liquid. One drink made Ash feel better and able to stand.
("Are you okay?") asked Pikachu.
"Yeah, and I needed that," Ash gasped. "I'll be alright." They proceeded on before they reached a summit. "This must be the Gerudo Summit. I guess all we need to do is find the hideout and start the rummaging." Link blinked to Ash, confused. "I know, but if they have the Thunder Helm, we can get in and get it out." They continued onward into the summit, entering a large formation that made the area look like they're entering a cave. "It's huge…"
("And quiet… Too quiet…") They continued on before Link stepped in front of Ash and Pikachu with the same shield. Landing was a Yiga Clan member.
"You don't know when to quit, huh, Link?" he stammered. "But of course… neither do we!" More Yiga Clan members popped up out of nowhere.
"Ambush!" snapped Ash. More Yiga members fired arrows at the three. Ash and Link dove out of the way, the arrows missing their marks. One Yiga was a largely muscled man and holding a large katana. Link chased after the larger figure. The Yiga archer drew his bowstring with his eyes on Link. He leaped and flipped like a wheel. "Use Thunderbolt!"
("Can do!") agreed Pikachu. He let out a Thunderbolt that struck the airborne clan member. He dropped the bow as he fell onto a rock neck-first. Link deflected the strikes from the larger member. Another clan member came after Ash and Pikachu with the hooked swords, but Ash caught it with the swords Link kicked over.
"Lizal Boomerangs?" the attacker named. "And you're a dual wielder? I must admit, it's quite refreshing."
"At least I bring a new wrinkle to battling," Ash assured. Like before with the Lizalfos, Ash caught the hook sword and parried it to give the Yiga a punch to the chin. The Yiga fell flat to the ground. Ash turned to see the large Yiga punch the ground, causing a fissure to reach Link who whipped out the glider as a rock pillar jumped. Link switched the glider and sword to slash at the Yiga. The Yiga tried to deflect with his sword, but Link threw his sword which shattered on impact. The shattering weapon launched the Yiga into the wall where he smashed into it and appeared stuck… and unconscious. They poofed afterwards, leaving behind more green gems and bananas. Ash picked up a bunch. "What's with their obsession with these bananas?"
("There's more than one fruit,") Pikachu added. They headed inside to a large circular room with more of the Yiga markings near the ceiling.
"This is inside the Yiga Clan Hideout?"
("It's huge!") They reached a tall platform in the center of the room where Link saw torches lit. Ash and Pikachu joined, finding wall hangings over the pathways. Link picked up a bow and aimed it at one of the hangings with the torch in between. He fired the arrow through the torch. The wall hanging burned off. One-eyed bats flew out where Pikachu fired another Thunderbolt. The bats were shocked and the swarm fell before poofing, leaving behind their wings. Link patted his chest.
"It's only a guess." Resetting, Link fired another arrow through the torch where the wall hanging burned down. There was a pathway. Link nodded to the path. Pikachu detected a smell from the new path
("I smell more bananas.") They proceeded inside which they tried to remain quiet. More Yiga were on a lower level, but patrolled with lit torches. They crossed a bridge where they saw a Gerudo soldier imprisoned. The knelt to reach the prisoner.
"Voe!?" she whispered. "Of all of Hyrule to rescue me."
"What happened to you?" asked Ash.
"I'm Barta," she named herself. "I'm one of the soldiers protecting the Chieftan. I came here to find the Thunder Helm and return it back to her… but I was overpowered. They imprisoned me in this. The Thunder Helm is held by Kohga."
"Then we came to the right place." That's when Barta noticed Ash's ears.
"A human voe… a rarity."
"Yeah, I've realized. We've been wondering about Kohga." Barta nodded to the curiosity.
"He is the leader of the Yiga. They're former Sheikan from the East. Kohga has been influenced to find the one champion." Looking to the side with the Mighty Bananas, Ash had a question about it.
"We've seen bananas when they're beaten."
"It seems that all they eat is Mighty Bananas. I do not understand myself. Still, it would be best to get around the Yiga without being discovered. If they find you, you'll be overwhelmed."
"Okay." That's when Barta presented a spear that looked like a gold trident with the blade as the center prong.
"Take my Gerudo Spear, human. It may prove helpful when the time comes." Ash accepted the spear. "Yiga Blademasters cannot reach on normal swings." Link nodded before they headed out. Ash collected the bananas. Link, Ash and Pikachu saw the large Yiga member patrolling the lower deck. Link pointed to the other side of the stack of steel crates, then motioned his mouth. Learning from Barta, Ash pulled out and tossed a bunch of the Mighty Bananas to the other side. When the large Yiga turned, Link waived Ash and Pikachu to follow as they circled the durable cargo. The large Yiga saw the bunch lying.
"Bananas!" he cheered before chasing after the bunch. Link took the Gerudo Spear from Ash and followed. Completely distracted, he didn't see Link approaching. He stabbed the clueless Yiga in the back. He fell, dead. His body poofed to nothing. They moved onward over a spiked fence to a lower bowl. There were two stacks of stone, one on each side.
"Another one?" whispered Ash. Link nodded before Ash threw another bunch to the side. Then, Link came close to the bunch, finding a clear path for the Yiga member to reach the Mighty Bananas. He whistled.
"Who's there!?" the Yiga wondered. He looked and became excited to find a bunch for his own. "A treat! Come to me, my favorite bananas!" Link, Ash and Pikachu left and entered a narrow tunnel with a ladder at the end. They climbed the ladder to which they seemed to have found a horde.
"Now I wish I was an Aipom's uncle," he joked. "All of these Mighty Bananas… They can't seem to find enough."
("Still, no meat…") listed Pikachu. ("No veggies, no dairy…") Link started to pocket the Mighty Bananas. They soon leaped down onto a tocky stack and looked at the Yiga members who walked around. Ash and Link studied their movements.
"You know, it must be nice to have the Thunder Helm and give the little chieftan some comeuppance," one Yiga member mentioned.
"I know, you're also irritated by them calling us voe," the other brought up. "Using our skills back at Kakariko Village definitely helped in the raid. It's not our fault they don't have adequate training."
"Look who they're led by! That little brat has a better chance being in the care of her mother than actually lead a town full of women who deserve men like us."
"That or you're looking to see if you have what's needed to make a Gerudo boy like in the legend. You've heard about it: every 100 years, a male Gerudo is born."
"What, you don't believe I make a good dad?"
"Don't get ahead of the conversation. If you want to learn about it, we have that soldier still locked up."
"And you're telling me that I was getting ahead of the conversation?"
"Sorry, but you put me in that spot!" Link pointed to Ash about a drop. Ash agreed, but Pikachu proceeded to drop the bunch of Mighty Bananas on the Hylian's plot. Seeing where Pkachu dropped the bunch, Link petted him before they leaped down. The Yiga guard spotted the bananas and cooed. He giddied over to the bunch as Link snuck behind him. No chance to attack, the guard fell from the fatal strike. The other guard heard nothing.
"Brother?" He started to journey to where his fellow collegue would be. Out of nowhere, Pikachu slashed at the head of the other with his white glowing tail. The blow sent the Yiga guard into a pillar head first. He was motionless. Ash leaped down to see the aftermath.
"Nice job with the Iron Tail," Ash praised.
("Thanks, Ash!") accepted Pikachu. He pulled out one more bunch of Mighty Bananas.
"It's funny how they're bananas for… bananas." Link laughed to Ash's note. "You really think it's that funny?" Link turned his head and wove his hand, trying to calm down.
("It was funny to hear.") All Ash did was shaking the head. They soon reached outside again where a giant circular hole stood. Out in the open with the sun starting to set. They walked out toward the hole.
"Hey!" shouted a man. Link, Ash and Pikachu looked around before Pikachu sensed the presence.
("Behind us!") he warned. All turned as one more Yiga man appeared, rather different than the others. He wore a headdress with white horn-like strans of hair protruding from each side of a wrapped strain of hair sticking up. He wore a yellow and white cape-like collar around the neck, metal shoulder guard and belt, and cotton cuffs. The belt held his enlarged stomach.
"You must be Kohga?" guessed Ash. The new Yiga, believed to be Kohga, straightened his right shoulder.
"So you know me?" he scoffed. "And you are? In fact, what are you three doing in my napping room?" Link, Ash and Pikachu didn't react. That's when Kohga spotted the Slate. "Wait a minute…" He wiped his mask and looked to Link's hip where the Slate was. "That thing on your hip… Is that… Could that be the Sheikah Slate?" Ash had a bad feeling about Kohga's erratic demeanor.
"What if it is?" he voiced.
("Careful,") Pikachu muttered. Kohga couldn't believe the finding.
"Then that means…" he started. "It's YOU!" He furiously pointed at Link. "You're that Link guy I've been searching for!" He cheered to the discovery. "This is my lucky day! I sent my scouts all over Hyrule to find you… but you just chose to enter my hideout! If I knew this would've happened, I would've had my scouts escort you inside, along with your friends!" Ash and Pikachu had an idea of where Kohga had the Thunder Helm.
"We came for the heirloom to the Gerudo," Ash briefed. That's when Kohga started to dance.
"You're talking to the leader of the Yiga Clan!" he cheered. He threw both of his held hands up and to the right. "The strong!" Then he shifted to the left. "The burly!" Then he was pointing up to the air after a spin. "The one… the only…" He spun once more before he returned to his original stance. "MASTER KOHGA!" Link and Ash drew their blades. "Prepare yourselves!" With the Thunder Helm on the line, Link, Ash and Pikachu had to battle Kohga as a red moon started to peek.
TO BE CONTINUED...