Authors note: This chapter has probably been my favorite so far. I knew Artarion was gonna be fun to write but I mean it just flowed great. It was also the easiest chapter to write so far.

Before I ramble on too much please enjoy.

Have you ever woken up and just said to yourself, "You know I feel like being the most annoying person ever today."

Well for Artarion today is one of those days, and felt that it was his honored duty to annoy one person in particular. That person with the honor of being annoyed by him was Riju.

He does feel that he should partially thank Grimaldus for assigning him to the Gerudo. As a matter of fact Grimaldus went over the top and made Riju mad before they had even left the castle.

But then a great sorrow fell upon our mighty hero. Grimaldus called him off and said that he had to stay at the castle. This doesn't sound too bad but then the worst news arrives, Grimaldus told him to restock with Cador.

Our hero was shocked, flabbergasted, bamboozled, confused, dazed, astonished, astounded. Why would Grimaldus do such a terrible thing to him.

Not only did he have to restock the supplies but he had to do it with, Cador. Cador is the most everything has to be perfect person alive. He even says to clean every nook and cranny.

Like what the hell is a nook or a cranny? Where did this saying some from. It was probably made up by the first super organized people, who wanted to torcher us good, untidy people.

They tell us clean every nook and cranny unbeknownst to us that nooks and cranny's don't really exist. So then they tell us we missed them and we search and search but it is futile. Tidy people are truly evil.

Alas if our hero cannot go to Gerudo he shall have to go help restock with Cador. For now at least, this crime against him will not stand.

Hours pass and Artarion has finally come up with a plan to escape the wrath of restocking with the evil mastermind Cador.

"Cador I have to piss I'll be right back."

"No you don't, you haven't had a drink in months you don't have to piss."

"Yes I did I snuck one as we were leaving that chick's birthday."

"W-what did you just call the princess?"

"You heard me dumbass also she not a princess anymore. So I see nothing wrong with me saying that."

"How about the fact that she's married to the deadliest man on the planet."

"No way Priamus is definitely better, also I still don't believe he's the knight he's way too short. Even Zelda's taller than him."

"Alright you know what we'll argue later just go take your piss." Artarion couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Cador actually fell for his stupid excuse.

Now all that's left is for Artarion to make his way out of the castle without being seen by Zelda or Grimaldus. Everything was going perf-

What's that our hero here's through closed doors? Could it be Grimaldus is telling the Princess how he got everyone killed. The opportunity was to great, he had to make a joke.

"Wait, hold up is Grimaldus telling the story of how he screwed us all and got the rest of humanity killed, fun." It was perfect but now he had to get out of there before Grimaldus asked too many questions.

"What do you want Artarion I thought you were restocking with Cador?" No this isn't good he's onto Artarion, time to lie.

"Well we were but then we finished and now I'm super bored so I think I might just go to Gerudo Town for something to do." He'd done it he was in the free until Zelda spoke up.

"I really don't think you should do that Artarion. It's not the way of the Gerudo and Riju would get more upset than she already is. I highly advise you don't go there."

'To Hell with her advice, I'm bored.'

"Your advice is acknowledged, and duly ignored." The line was perfect, he'd had it for months always waiting for the perfect time to use it.

But he couldn't kid linger or he'd be stopped again. He bolted out of the room hearing only Zelda's stammering, 'what,' behind him.

He was gone and out of the castle as quickly as his feet could carry him. Snagging a paraglider on his way out to increase his exit and give him badass exits in the future.

Now to get from the castle to Gerudo Town it shouldn't take too long especially for him, but where's fun in that? It's much more exciting to go around the entire kingdom spying on some of his brothers and then going to Gerudo Town for the last half of the day.

So he was off to Hebra to see all the wonderful sights. Which included the mountains, the wildlife, the snow and an archery completion between Tulin and Priamus.

Of all the great sights of nature the archery completion was definitely his favorite from Hebra. So mic so that Artarion wrote down what he saw.

'I'm here today in the Hebra mountains. Here there are many wonderful sights to see but also some very dangerous animals. Here we have the Priamus Maximus and the Tulinius Minimus. The two kings of the Hebra mountains. I have been really lucky today, the two beasts are competing in a showing of strength to see who is the real king of the Hebra mountains. The competition started very evenly but in the fourth showing the Tulinius Minimus was almost defeated. To prove he was the greatest the Tulinius continued blind. The Priamus Maximius never backing down from a challenge followed suite. Despite both of their best efforts neither animal could best the other and they left in draw. This is Glare Thrills signing out.'

After his wild adventure in the Hebra mountains are brave hero ventured into the Lost Woods where the misty fog still roamed around. He found the Great Deku Tree but strangely the Master Sword was still there. Perhaps Link was doing other things and decided to put off getting the sword.

From the Lost Woods Artarion braved his way up death mountain to the very tippy top where lava spurred everywhere. To his surprise though the Gorons were running suicides up and down the mountain. He had to take note of it.

'This Glare Thrills back with more adventure from the wild. Here I am on Death Mountain where a very strange thing is happening to the locals. There is a very hostile creature lurking below them forcing them to run up and down the volcano. Wait he's called them back it seems ten of them are being sent to keep running while the rest are forced to shoot bows with, are those BOMB ARROWS. The hostile Bastilanius is forcing the locals to shoot bomb arrows on Death Mountain. Wait the creature is being merciful and giving them smoke bomb arrows. Still these will explode almost instantly in the heat. I'd best get out of here before I'm spotted by the Bastilanius. This is Glare Thrills singing out.'

From here our hero the brave Artarion ventured across the mountains to Zoras Domain. Here he saw many wonderful sights and even a memorial to the late Zora Champion Mipha.

It was from this mountain that he saw the last thing he expected to see. It shocked him so much that he completely forgot about his notes and just stared blankly.

Nero who never showed any sadness because of his job. An apothecary can't be upset or sad when they fail. But here was Nero not only looking sad but also holding back tears.

Artarion didn't know what was happening on that bridge but in this moment, he'd lost all of his humorous demeanor and felt troubled. What was Nero holding in that he could not even share it with his brothers.

Artarion thought about this the whole way out of the Domain. He even thought about it when he reached the dessert. He couldn't shake it, he knew something was bothering his brother and he wanted to help, but he didn't know how to help Nero if he didn't know what was troubling him.

Artarion never recovered his carefree attitude until he reached Gerudo Town. Once he got there the show would be on and he was gonna make it a good show if it was the last thing he did.

"Halt voe, you are not permitted to enter."

"No, no, there must be a misunderstanding I'm here for a meeting with Riju. We have some things we need to discuss."

"The chieftain said the one that is to speak with her would be wearing a helmet with a skull on it. Yet here you are without one."

"Right I knew something felt off see I meant to grab that one but I believe I accidentally grabbed by brothers would it still work if I wore that one?"

"She also gave us a name, who are you?"

"I am Grimaldus of the Black Templar, Reclusiarch."

"Very well you may enter, but wear your helmet."

"But of course I would never want to make your people feel uncomfortable."

'There's no way that actually worked. Of course the whole things blown when I get to Riju but I'll already be in the city and I don't plan on leaving.'

"Chieftan the Reclusiarch is here to speak with you." Riju's back was turned to them perhaps this would work out. Plus Artarion would get to see if he'd really nailed his Grimaldus impression.

"Riju we have much to discuss in terms of my men being allowed to enter the city." Riju kept her back turned. Artarion might actually pull this off.

"Grimaldus I've told you before it is not the way of my people and it hasn't ever been."

"What about when a Gerudo male is born, what then are they cast out until they're old enough to lead the tribe."

"That is different Grimaldus you must understand that I cannot allow you to do this."

"It's Artarion I trust no one better for this particular job than him. I mean have you seen him with his shirt off. Let me just say he's got abs of steel." Artarion knew he was done for now but he didn't even care. The opportunity was just too perfect.

Riju spun around and almost exploded when she saw Artarion standing there instead of Grimaldus.

"What the Hell are you doing here?!"

Despite himself Artarion couldn't help it he immediately broke down into historical laughter. The way he'd said it and her reaction was just to good.

"Did Grimaldus send you here? I knew he didn't trust me." Now Riju was really pissed and it was not looking good.

"I...no...he didn't tell...me to come here, I was just...really bored." Artarion barely managed to get out between laughs. He knew he was dead but he just did not care.

"How in Hylia's name did you get past the guards I told them skull helmet, skull." Artarion collected himself and managed to stand up straight before he answered.

"It really wasn't hard I just told them I grabbed the wrong helmet. Literally the easiest break in I've ever done."

"I'm calling the guards to get you out of here." Artarion didn't like this idea as he'd already been here for a whole 5 minutes. This is practically his home.

What he did next is the most ridiculous and outrageous thing Riju has or probably will ever see in her life. Artarion took off his helmet, got on his knees, made huge puppy dog eyes and begged.

"B-but Rij we've been through so much together. Remember earlier this morning when you yelled about how you didn't want me in your town. You don't really wanna kick me out after all this time. Don't let me go Rij I-I don't know what I would do without you." Artarion could keep a straight face between what he said and Riju's dead hanging jaw her eyes wide, but he managed not to laugh.

"W-what did you just call me."

"Cmon Rij don't pretend now, think of all that we've been through, don't let your traditions get in the way of us. You're the leader, can't you change the rules. Please Rij do it for me." Artarion couldn't even keep eye contact at this point, one more sentence and he might have died of laughter.

Riju couldn't even form words, she couldn't even move her jaw it slacked so much. Her eyes were larger than King Roams belt. All she could do was stare blankly at Artarion who had somehow move towards her this entire time and was now right in front of her, staring at the floor.

"It's ok Rij I know what you must be feeling right now. You want to be with me, but you also want to keep your traditions. But you have to ask yourself what traditions you'll even have left to live after this is all over. Rij don't just fight for me fight for everyone that Ganondorf has killed, everyone that he's taken from, everything that he's destroyed. Fight for all the things he's taken from your, people, from you, fight for what he took from me." Through some act of pure will power Artarion straightened his face and looked straight into Riju's eyes, but what he found in them was the last thing he expected.

Now it was Artarion's turn to go slack jawed and speechless. When he looked up into Riju's eyes it wasn't shock that he saw anymore, nor was it hatred, it wasn't even confusion. What he saw was adoration.

Never in a million years did Artarion think he would see someone look at him with the amount of fiery adoration that he'd seen in Riju's eyes. And never in a billion years did he think it would be her eyes they'd come from.

Something that Artarion said when he was pretending to beg to her struck at her heart and in the most extreme turn of events she went from hating him with all her being to liking him. Love is too strong a word to use, for now at least.

Riju must have realized he saw what she felt because as soon as his jaw fell her eyes tore away from him.

"Ahem, um on second thought I will hear your proposal for why I should start letting men into my city." Artarion immediately found himself again and stood up straight breaking out of the disbelief he was in.

"Um right of course..."

Over the next five to ten minutes Riju and Artarion negotiated the terms for men entering Gerudo Town. Although the entire time neither of them mad eye contact even once.

"So it's settled then, Any high ranking government and military officials will be allowed in the city." Artarion had never been so nervous talking to someone. Not even 15 minutes ago he was pretending to beg at her feet and now he couldn't even look at her when he spoke.

"Right and then once the invasion begins any I'll lift any rules on male or female because we'll need all the help we can get."

"Right, well I guess I should get ready to train your people and you have to tell them about what's gonna happen so I'll see you then Riju."

"Yes I'll see you then and one more thing, I never told you to stop."

"Stop what?"

"Calling me that name, I like it keep using it, but not in public of course. People would think we were together and that's just ridiculous."

"Ya of course why would we do that it's just ridiculous. You and me could never work it's just really weird. But I'll see you at the announcement Rij." Riju felt her heart flip when she heard that. She knew she shouldn't and she probably shouldn't but if they were all really gonna die in 2 months she at least wanted to try.

'What the hell am I thinking. I can't do this I swore and oath I would never let my emotions take control of my actions.

At the same time the oath means bull crap now that the Imperium is destroyed.

Well I still shouldn't besides it would never work.

How do you know that it could work great. Maybe you'll even survive this whole thing and the two of you could try and carry it on.

One day at a time damn you. Besides I have more important things to worry about.'

Within the hour Riju and Artarion were standing in front of all the Gerudo people, many of them wee shocked to see a voe but all attended.

"My people, my family a great calamity threatens Hyrule once again. The Demon King Ganondorf has been resurrected and in just 2 months time will be here with the largest legion the world has ever seen..."

'Wow she has a beautiful voice. Wait what am I saying I need to pay attention to her speech.

I have better idea you could pay attention to her emerald eyes.

Ya they are beautiful, wait no I know what you're doing and stop.

You're no fun anymore.'

"...To train you for this calamity Reclusiarch Grimaldus has sent Artarion. He may be a voe but times are changing and I think it's about time we change with them."

'Now you missed her whole speech cause you were looking at her eyes great job genius.

Ok well I'm sorry I was busy talking to you. Maybe next time don't yell at me to look at her eyes.

I'm disowning you.

You're in my head how the hell would you even do that.

Whatever just go train them.'

Riju and Artarion split up the tribe for training. Riju taking the less experienced and Artarion taking the better warriors.

They may or may not have done this so that they could pay attention to what they were doing and not be distracted by the other.

The training today was short since Artarion didn't leave the castle til much later and went around all of Hyrule before he made it to Gerudo town.

When they finished everyone went home and Artarion had to meet with Riju to find out where he would stay, since they weren't going back to the castle for another week.

"So does this place have a guest room or something?"

"No I think you're gonna have to stay in the bunker, all the inns are full."

"Ok I'll head down there, wait is it comfortable down there?"

"Not really why?"

"Damn, I just haven't slept in a bed in over 6 months."

"What, that's ridiculous you know what." Riju looked very nervous to say what she was about to say but Artarion didn't interrupt her.

"W-why don'tyousleepwithme." The words came out so quickly she wasn't sure if she'd really said them.

She must have because Artarion once again stood there slack jaw and speechless. Not knowing what to do she pulled a card out of his book.

"Well if you do you can show me those abs of steel you were telling me about earlier." She said with her best seductive voice she could manage at the time.

"I have no words for what I just heard." Riju's heart dropped maybe she was wrong and he'd truly just been pretending or may-

Before she could say anything Artarion was off to her room.

"You coming Rij?" He said with a grin on his face before disappearing around the corner.

Riju chased after him until she reached the door to her room. It was cracked open and inside she heard the clanking of armor.

"If I come in there and you don't have clothes on I'm gonna carry your naked ass out of this city."

"Don't worry I still have most of my clothes on. For now." He mumbled that last part but Riju still heard it. But she decided to say anything about it.

When Riju entered the room once again her jaw dropped. It seemed that had been a common event for the two.

When Artarion said he had abs of steel, he meant was under exaggerating. Granted Artarion is a genetically modified super soldier.

"You know it's not polite to stare Rij." Riju's face turned a bright red that rivaled that of hylian tomatoes. Even though she asked him to use it she still wasn't used to the nickname.

"Well you can't just take your shirt off without warning me."

"I did warn you, I said that most of my clothes were on not all of my clothes."

"Well I'm bad at resisting temptation."

Before he could react Riju had crossed the room and pulled him into a kiss. Although it was hard for her considering how much taller than her he was. After a solid second she pulled away to see Artarion's face redder than hers had been.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Riju just stared at the ground her face burning, but then Artarion gently lifted her head.

"I never told you to stop." He said with a grin and pulled her back in. This time it wasn't just one kissing the other, Riju was kissing him back.

Neither of them had ever loved another person before, and it was like nothing they'd ever felt. The rush of joy when being with that person and the happiness you felt when you saw them happy.

Suddenly Artarion pulled back with a puzzled look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Riju was concerned, did she have food stuck in her teeth. Did her breath smell bad.

"How did this happen? Only a few hours ago you hated my guts and I was making fun of you for it. What happened for us to get to this point?"

"I thought a lot about that and when you were pretending to beg me to let you stay you said something. You were telling me to fight for everyone Ganondorf's taken from and in that moment you slipped up. You didn't realize it but your voice went low and cracked. I realized that despite your carefree demeanor, and the very immature jokes you make, you're just like me. You've clearly lost someone close to you, you lost your kingdom and you blame yourself for all of it. I was the same way once. I blamed myself for everything that happened. I shut everyone out so I could make train until I was able to protect them. I realized in that moment that despite what you tell people your, the most emotional one in your squad. The problem is you've buried all your emotions. You don't want others to know you're hurt and I know what that's like. So that's how we got here, I realized that we're not so different, it was like meeting someone I can actually relate to."

Artarion didn't know what to say. She was entirely right but he didn't even tell his brothers about how he felt. She was able to figure it out with one simple slip up that he made. She was right they were much more similar than he'd thought.

So for the first time in his life Artarion let go of his emotions that he'd been holding onto for decades. And he cried for the first time since he was a baby. But for the first time in his life he had someone there to comfort him and let him know everything would be alright.

2/22/24

Final notes: Holy crap that was a roller coaster. When I started writing this chapter I had no intention of putting them together. It was an idea in the back of my head but I was gonna write him annoying the hell out of her. Actually this entire chapter got improvised. I was just putting in whatever felt right at the time. And when I got to Gerudo Town I said screw it and put that in there. I might have rushed it but I'm trying to get to the action as soon as I can.

Anyways thanks for reading have a great day and God bless.