Chapter 4: Wolves in Sheeps' Clothing
This was embarrassing for Ash. He wore red silky sirwal, a red brassier that looped around his neck, a red veil and sandals. There was a face mask that covered most of his face, the eyes left. In the same ensemble was Link wearing the same thing, only turquoise. "I can't believe I'm dressing as a woman again," he groaned.
("You dressed as Juliet not long ago,") Pikachu recalled. Link awed Ash's humiliating past. He put a hand on Ash's bare shoulder. ("At least Link cares.") Link looked back to the path they took before when they defended Gerudo Town from the Yiga Clan's attack.
"Hopefully, we have better luck this time getting into the town."
("I'll try not to bother.") They left the Kara Kara Bazaar and made their way through the desert after getting some sleep at the inn there. They hoped to beat the rising sun and possible heatstroke. After an hour of walking, the Gerudo guarding the entrance to the town spotted Ash and Link, but the disguises made the two guards at ease.
"Vasaaq!" the Gerudo on the left greeted.
"Sav'otta!" the Gerudo on the right greeted. Ash seemed rather puzzled at the greetings.
"Vasaaq and Sav'otta?" he repeated. "Are they… greetings?" Pikachu hid behind the Gerudo, holding the brassier Ash wore. They soon arrived to see more Gerudo interacting. "Whoa, this is something. Is everyone of them women?" Link nodded to the question as little girls wearing white outfits of what Ash and Link wore came to the two.
"Vasaaq!" one of the girls greeted, noses looking like bird beaks.
"Did you come to shop here?" another Gerudo girl welcomed. Ash cleared his throat, hoping to bring out a voice that would satisfy the Gerudo.
"We came to see if we could help you with the Yiga Clan," he answered, sounding like May. The girls awed the confidence as Pikachu came to see the girls. Seeing Pikachu, the girls came to the Pokémon and hoisted him.
"It's a cutie!" one more Gerudo child greeted as they petted the Mouse Pokémon. Pikachu enjoyed the petting.
"Is this yours?" the first child asked.
"Pikachu is," Ash confirmed. That's when one of them had a reddish bulb fruit given to Pikachu.
"Have a Voltfruit," she gave. Pikachu became curious to the Voltfruit before taking a bite. The juices made Pikachu squeal in delight.
"I thought Pikachu would like a Voltfruit," the last Gerudo child awed.
"It is," the first Gerudo child agreed. "Anyway, are you vai meeting the chieftan?" Ash and Link looked to each other.
"The chieftan?" he asked.
"Right, you vai aren't familiar with Gerudo Town," the first Gerudo child realized. "She's at the Royal Palace."
"Thank you," Ash praised. The girls ran off and Ash sighed in relief.
("Hard to voice like May, huh?") guessed Pikachu.
"Not easy," Ash huffed, returning to his own voice. After that, they headed up the Royal Palace. There, a muscled Gerudo woman wearing a headband of gold and earrings while wearing bracers came to Ash and Link, a spear in their faces.
"Halt!" she ordered. Ash and Link jumped, their hands in the air while Pikachu started sparking up. "What business do you have with Lady Riju?" Suddenly…
"Stand down, Buliara," a young woman ordered. All turned to see a young Gerudo, slightly older than the girls outside. She wore a tiara under a gold head-dress with two altered size teardrop hoops above six prongs sticking out the sides, three each. She wore a loin skirt and high heels below ankle cuffs. Buliara turned to the young Gerudo. "Apparently, someone has an important item, especially one to get Vah Naboris under control-" She paused at seeing Ash, suspecting something off about the disguised voe. "Remove your headwear." Realizing that she meant him, Ash removed his veil and mask. His face exposed, Riju gasped. Her heels clapping the ground, she took step by step, her eyes only seeing Ash's face. "By Nayru's Love…" The rest were wondering on Riju's shocked expression.
"Lady Riju?" called out Buliara. Riju snapped out.
"My apologies…" she gasped.
"It's all good," Ash assured.
"Still, approach and be recognized by Lady Makeela Riju, Chieftain of the Gerudo, queen of the desert and descendant of the legendary champion, Urbosa," Buliara addressed. Link, Ash and Pikachu knelt to Riju.
"I heard that someone with the Sheikan Slate was coming," she pointed out. Link stood and showed the device on his side. Riju studied the device. "I also see you have the Runes equipped: Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis and Remote Bombs. You should have what you need, Link." Ash stood where Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder. Link removed the headwear, revealing his face.
"That device has all of that?" voiced Ash.
("That's impressive!") squeaked Pikachu. Riju heard Pikachu and turned to the Pokémon.
"What is this little rodent?" she wondered. Pikachu didn't fight, allowing Riju to observe him. "You're definitely nothing scary compared to the monsters summoned by Calamity Ganon."
("Not that I want to be,") Pikachu giggled as Riju petted around his ears.
"Lady Riju, should we allow these voe to stay?" wondered Buliara.
"For now, but as long as they remained disguised," Riju pointed out. Link agreed.
"That won't be a problem," Ash accepted. Riju stepped closer to Ash and noticed an odd feature.
"Why are your ears round, handsome?" she asked while reaching for Ash's ear. Ash seemed to blush at the remark. "Are they not Hylian?"
"Nope, I'm human," Ash corrected.
"Human!?" repeated Buliara. Riju couldn't believe that the young man was a mere human.
"It's rare that we have voe outside of Gorons," Riju admitted. "Even more, one that's a human." 'Though, even more when it's one I've fallen for.' Other soldiers came by, spotting Ash and Link. They turned at the new Gerudo who looked to the two newcomers.
"VOE!" one shouted. The Gerudo had spears at the ready. Ash and Link started to defend themselves.
"At ease, troops," Buliara warned. "Apparently, he's got the Sheikan Slate." The soldiers cringed, not sure about allowing voe to roam.
"I have… a lot of questions to ask, Lady Riju," Ash opened.
"As do I, like knowing who you are," Riju countered. Buliara nodded, allowing Ash to answer while the soldiers left.
"I'm Ash Ketchum, a Pokémon Trainer," Ash replied. "And the one in your arms is Pikachu, my first Pokémon and best friend." Pikachu squeaked to confirm.
"Pokémon, huh?" awed Buliara. "Are there others that you have? Animals are free from gender judgment."
"I do," Ash confirmed as he released his Pokémon. Riju was rather awed by the amount as Ash introduced each one. "To think, I have more waiting back at Professor Oak's ranch in Pallet Town."
"Really?" awed Riju.
"If I could find a way to bring other Pokémon here, I would," Ash wished. Torkoal reached the back of the throne Riju sat before seeing Ash and Link arriving. It saw the desert.
"Torkoal doesn't seem to be bothered by the desert's heat," Buliara realized.
"Torkoal's a Fire Pokémon," Ash briefed. "Desert heat doesn't bother him."
"A tortoise that breathes fire?" guessed Buliara. Torkoal blew a small stream of fire. "Now I've seen everything." Riju could only wonder about Ash's Pokémon more.
"A burning tortoise…" she awed. "Could Pikachu produce lightning?"
"He can," Ash confirmed. "Anyway, Buliara mentioned Urbosa…"
"She was a Chieftain like me, though she was much older," Riju admitted.
"I was gonna say, I'm actually surprised that someone as young as yourself is in charge of this town," Ash pointed out.
"My mother passed away, and I became the new Chieftain," Riju briefed. "It's my duty to watch my tribe, though the looming threat of Vah Naboris and who's controlling it lingers in the back of my mind." Pikachu palmed Riju's arm in somberness. "Are you… consoling me?"
("Can I?") wondered Pikachu. Riju shook her head with a smile.
"It's much appreciated," she praised. Link saw something in the distance.
"Did something catch your eye, Champion?" questioned Buliara. Link nodded to Riju's protector.
"Did you want me to-" started Ash, but Link shook his head. He pointed to Swellow. Ash and Riju looked puzzled.
"What could you want with Swellow?" asked Riju. Link pointed in the direction of his plan. He motioned to the air which Swellow seemed to have a clue.
"I see," Buliara pictured. "Swellow will monitor the air to allow Link to know where he is." Ash awed the idea.
"Can you help Link?" he asked. Swellow cawed and nodded. Link applied his disguise back on him. He left with Swellow.
"Anyway, I also wanted to say how sorry I am for losing your mom," Ash apologized.
"Thank you, but I've since been able to grow from her passing," Riju added.
"No problem." A nod from Riju.
"Right now, my main concern is my family heirloom: the Thunder Helm."
"The one that Yiga Clan member brought up."
"Yes… The Thunder Helm is what is needed if we have to reach Vah Naboris. The Thunder Helm acts as a conductor to the electric storm and form a barrier. Let me explain it with Pikachu's electricity since you told me about what he can do. Buliara, your spear." Buliara handed the spear to Riju. She planted the spear on the ground, having it stand up. "Let's say that spear is the Thunder Helm. Pikachu, fire away." Setting himself, Pikachu fired his Thunderbolt, striking the tip of the spear.
"I get it: the lightning would be drawn into the helm while the rest of us are safe."
"Exactly. It's a method for us if we can get the Divine Beast tamed… and if I heard correctly, the spirit of Urbosa can be freed. It's only a rumor, but knowing that Princess Zelda's champion is here, we may have a chance to get the upper hand on Calamity Ganon." Ash and Pikachu realized the idea.
"Speaking of Zelda and Urbosa…"
"Lady Urbosa was the mightiest of the Gerudo Tribe. It's no wonder Princess Zelda chose her to be the champion and pilot of Vah Naboris. While the Thunder Helm conducts lightning, Lady Urbosa was a lightning queen. From stories I heard, Urbosa and Princess Zelda were like mother and daughter, and it helped that she was friends to Zelda's mother, the Queen of Hyrule prior to her passing. She once teased fellow champions with her lightning abilities. She had a flare for fighting, but also a soft side with everyone. She didn't care about who she befriended, including voe. It's just… when Calamity Ganon attacked… Urbosa's passion wasn't enough. Heck, all of the champions fell. It's quite the surprise that Link's here." Ash and Pikachu awed the story of Urbosa.
"A mother to Zelda… I can only imagine what it would be like to face her."
"All we can do is find the hideout of the Yiga Clan and take the Thunder Helm back."
"I can do that, Chieftain." The claim made Riju turn.
"You may have these Pokémon on hand, but they won't be enough from what I've heard… and that's not including the monsters that wait in the path, including Moldugas." That made the Pokémon around a little fearful.
"We won't know until we face them." That made Riju smile.
"I wish you didn't start warming up so soon. We can wait for Link to return. I can show you around Gerudo Town. I know you got a good look beforehand. You might want to put your headwear back on." Ash nodded as he redressed his head-dress. They left the palace to see what Gerudo Town has in store.
TO BE CONTINUED...