Chapter 6: Sparked-Up Romance
A Molduga was falling on Ash and Riju who were preoccupied with staring at each other. They had a Sand Seal race when the Molduga interfered by springing up from the ground. Ash had to do something. He rolled and dragged Riju from the Molduga's path. The massive sand creature crashed into the ground and back under. Reunited with Link, Ash had to think of how to stop the Molduga. "We need to think of something!" growled Ash.
"Yes, but what?" wondered Riju. "It's like we need to strike him from the inside." That's when Ash remembered the Sheikan Slate.
"From the inside?" An idea formed. "Link, you can make bombs with that Slate, right?" Link nodded to the idea. He looked out to the sandy land, knowing Molduga could pop out of nowhere to attack. He looked up at the tower he came down from.
"Are you pondering a mid-air strike?" All Link did was nod. He messed with the Sheikan Slate before vanishing into thin air. Patricia and the Sand Seal Ash was loaned for the race returned to Riju, Ash and Pikachu. "What I suspect is that he'll paraglide and throw a bomb into Molduga's mouth and explode it inside!" Ash grabbed a leash.
"We'll need to find another form of explosive to feed that giant." This gave Riju an idea.
"We'll need to find a lookout perch with the red barrels." She picked up Patricia's leash.
"That means… we have a plan."
"Right… Let's go, Patricia!"
"And you follow Patricia!" The sand seals leaped off, beginning to drag the youths and Pikachu back on Ash's shoulder while they rode on the shields. They searched around as they're being chased with seeing Molduga's fin protruding out of the ground. Riju turned, finding red Lizalfos on a wooden platform on a tall post. There were red barrels by them.
"Over there!" Looking, Ash and Pikachu planned an approach.
"Let's see if they want to race!" However, Riju found a problem with the discovery
"Wait, those are Fire-Breath Lizalfos! They can breathe fire and could easily destroy the barrels up there!" Looking back at the approaching Molduga, Ash had an idea.
"Then, let's give that Molduga a new case of heartburn!" Using the leash, Ash guided his Sand Seal to the platform. The Lizalfos saw it and leaped down before racing after the chieftan and trainer.
"Here they come!" Bringing out the Frostblade, Ash hoped to scare the Lizalfos while Riju brought out a large scimitar. A few of the Lizalfos were side-by-side with Ash.
"Dive!" The Sand Seal submerged beneath the sand before Ash jumped and flipped before the Sand Seal resurfaced. Ash traveled in the other direction and slashed the sword. The slash ripped into the Lizalfos who then vanished from the strike. Pikachu gasped to the sight.
("What happened!?") he gasped. There were no more Lizalfos, but the two were now facing Molduga who was barreling toward the Sand Seal and the riders. The Sand Seal turned away while Ash used the momentum to slingshot his way to Molduga.
"Hang on!" urged Ash. He jumped and carried the shield onto the Molduga. He used the shield as a skateboard, grinding up Molduga before he reached the peak to ramp off the monster. "YA-HOO!" It was a direct flight to the platform with the momentum and speed. They landed and rolled as Link glided over to join Ash and Pikachu. Ash watched as Riju and Patricia tried to reach the post as Molduga turned around to the chieftan and Sand Seal.
'At least he's safe,' Riju noticed. 'But this also gives me an idea of dragging that monstrosity to him and Link.' Her Sand Seal started to realize where Riju wanted to go. They raced to the post. Link shook his head.
"You think she needs help?" guessed Ash. Link nodded to the situation as Swellow arrived. "Perfect timing. Swellow, I need you to carry Corphish to help Riju out." Swellow cawed to accept. Ash opened Corphish's ball. "Corphish, let Swellow carry you to that giant monster. I'll shout the moves." Corphish bobbed its body to accept before it jumped onto Swellow's back. They flew down to reach Patricia and Riju. Swellow flew to Molduga. "Corphish, use Bubble Beam!" Finding the Molduga's eye, Corphish opened a pincer before shooting bubbles at high speed like a machine gun. Molduga screeched as it started to flail. Finding the Pokémon, Molduga abandoned Riju and Patricia and pursued Swellow.
'Is that his skill? Using his Pokémon in methods to help out?' Patricia swam through the sands to the post as Corphish continued to attack Molduga's eyes. Link pointed to Riju closing in on the post.
"Corphish, ceasefire!" Corphish stopped the Bubble Beam attack. "Swellow, bring Molduga over here!" Swellow cawed and flew in front of Molduga while it chased.
"Ash, we have to get it to open up!" Hearing Riju, Ash turned to the red barrel.
"I got a follow-up! Hang on!" He turned to Link. "Any chance we can get that barrel down to the ground?" Link nodded before he glided down to the ground. Once on the ground, he opened his arms. Ash nodded before dropping the barrel to the ground. Link caught it, though he bent his knees to brace it and not drop it himself. Ash jumped down and rolled before standing back up. Molduga appeared and charged. Link, Riju, Ash and Pikachu braced for the arrival. Ash pulled two of his Pokéballs out. "Swellow, Corphish, return!" Beams shot from the Pokéballs and struck Swellow and Corphish as they turned into lights. The Molduga didn't seem to be bothered by it. Instead, it opened its gigantic mouth, ready to swallow the group. Ash had more. "Torkoal, I choose you!" He opened another ball, revealing Torkoal.
"Why are you bringing Torkoal out?"
"I still want to give heartburn to that." Link prepared the Slate. Within reach, Link hit the Slate. Gold chains appeared out of nowhere and Molduga froze. The mouth was open and Ash sensed the opportunity to strike. "Torkoal, use Overheat!" Torkoal breathed a massive white stream of fire that entered into Molduga's mouth. Link threw the barrel into Molduga's mouth.
"Stasis is about to stop!" Torkoal stopped and started to breathe a little heavy. The chains broke, but Molduga felt the blast inside its body. It shrieked from the blast and roared in enormous pain before it fell onto the sand with a thunderous thud. The others waited to see if there was any movement, but the body darkened fast. It soon exploded and parts from inside Molduga's body scattered.
"Ah…" sighed Link.
("We beat it!") cheered Pikachu. Riju came to Ash and Pikachu.
"Is this what humans possess?" she teased. "Or is this exclusively yours?" Ash smiled to Riju's query.
"Its my work as a Pokémon Trainer," he claimed. "I've trained myself and my Pokémon on situations like that." Riju seemed greatly humored by the claim.
"You might want to show me more examples of this personal training that you're admitting to," she wished as she pointed to Ash's exposed chest. "Maybe if you keep this up, you'll be an exception to the laws we have in town."
("I can go with that!") agreed Pikachu. Riju turned to Link.
"That goes for you as well," she offered. Link nodded, hoping to be able to walk into Gerudo Town without concerning the tribe.
"Shall we head back to town?" asked Ash.
"Yes, we're done here," Riju confirmed. She stroke a finger across Ash's chin while winking an eye. Ash stood with a blush on his face. Seeing Ash's reaction, Link nudged his arm. Ash snapped awake before turning to the champion.
"Sorry…" he muttered. Link patted Ash's free shoulder to comfort. As they returned to Gerudo Town, Ash and Link replaced their clothes with the Gerudo disguises. They journeyed through the town as talk came about Molduga's fate. The shocked reactions were all the disguised boys and Pikachu viewed.
("It must have been a big deal,") Pikachu studied. When they reached the palace, Buliara waited for them.
"Lady Riju…" she greeted.
"The hunt was successful," Riju teased. "Though, there were some close calls along the way." 'Some I wished were closer.' Buliara suspected the claim.
"Hunt? If I'm not mistaken, we're you and Ash doing some Sand Seal racing?" A coy smile came from Riju.
"Like I said… It would be easier to accept the situation presented." She came to the two boys and Pikachu leaped into her arms. Ash and Link removed their headwear before seeing Riju. "You've proven your worth for the task at hand." Ash and Link knew the task approaching.
"Are you referring to the Thunder Helm?" guessed Ash.
"What else? If we are to abscond Vah Naboris from the clutches of Calamity Ganon, the Thunder Helm is the only item we need. However, as we all know…"
"Right, the Yiga Clan has it. Link and I do need to prepare ourselves." Suddenly, Link pointed to the Sheikan Slate. It took a moment for Riju to realize the issue.
"He wants to know where among the wasteland the Clan's hiding spot is." Link handed Riju the Slate before she played with it. "According to my spies, the hideout of the Yiga Clan is… here." She marked a spot before handing the Slate back to Link. Ash came over to look while Link studied it.
"From this, the hideout looks like it's in the canyons north of us."
"Yes, but it's called the Gerudo Summit north of the Tower Link was able to activate."
"And the mountains can be trecherous to those who have never climbed before, let alone face the harsh chill," Buliara advised. Link nodded as he put the Slate away.
"My advice is to stock up and maybe have a few elixirs that can stave the cold," Riju added. "There also isn't much time to act. According to the shape of the moon, the next Full Moon is in two nights. If you're caught at midnight, the monsters that were slain will return to flesh." Ash knew the harsh reality of facing the Yiga Clan and thought of the approach.
"We'll need to prepare for everything coming our way," he planned as he pulled out the Frostblade. "I'm still surprised that those Fire-Breath Lizalfos fell after I hit them with this." Buliara knew about the outcomes.
"Fire-Type monsters are instantly defeated by an Ice-Type weapon like the Frostblade you possess," she briefed. "Similar if Ice-Type monsters are attacked with a Fire-Type weapon." Ash awed the explanation.
"Ash, I know you and Link will succeed in retrieving the Thunder Helm," Riju wished as Pikachu returned to Ash. "I wish to see you back here with the Helm." She kissed her fingers before pointing them at Ash and blowing them. Ash's face reddened with embarrassment. Reapplying the headgear, Ash and Pikachu gathered some new material from the market before returning to Link who made bottles of a red elixir.
"Is that the opposite of the Chilly Elixir?" he asked. Link nodded before offering Ash the elixir. "We should have everything needed to get the Thunder Helm back." Link brought out the Slate and opened the map. There, he offered a place for Ash and Pikachu to go. "The Inn? Looking to the reddening sky, Ash realized how late it was.
("Let's check in,") Pikachu suggested. ("Link probably wants us to cook something for us.") Link offered a bowl of glazed mushrooms to Pikachu. Interested, Pikachu ate a mushroom. Quickly, he felt a rush of energy into him. Using the gems he recovered from when he first met Link, Ash traveled into the Inn in town and got a pair of bed. After dinner, the three fell asleep. Ash could be wondering how May, Max and Brock are doing. Instead, he kept seeing Riju blow the kiss to him. It didn't wake him up in a cold sweat. Instead, he smiled. What could Ash and Pikachu do to help Link in getting through the Yiga Clan's hideout?
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Shoutout to the Michigan Wolverines on their National Championship. Way to go, Big Blue!)