Chapter 10: Flash Fight
"Stay on your edge, you two!" the voice rang out. Link, Ash and Pikachu looked at the floating fiend as it hovered and faced them. "This formidable adversary was made by Ganon and brought me to a warrior's demise 100 years ago. Do not allow this to be your end. Fight for your lives… and its death!" The fiend vanished and appeared behind the three.
"What the-!" gasped Ash.
"That thing is fast!" the voice warned. "Watch your backs!" Looking behind, the fiend emerged. It zoomed after the group, zigging and zagging while going after the three so fast that it looked like there were two of the fiend. Link rose a shield when a reddish bubble emerged. The fiend slashed with the sword, but the bubble flashed at the contact. The jolt reeled the fiend back. The bubble had cracks on it. "Daruk's Protection won't guard you for long, Link!" The fiend zipped back to reset.
"Looks like this guy wants to get in, attack, then back out," Ash studied. "And I don't know what Daruk's Protection truly is, but it does help in knowing how to battle it."
("But it moves so fast!") warned Pikachu. The fiend raced after Link with another zigzag dash. Link bubbled up once more and the fiend swung its sword. It smashed the bubble, but it rocked the fiend. Ash saw an opportunity to strike.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" ordered Ash. Pikachu fired Thunderbolt at the fiend. However, it seemed to re-energize the enemy.
("Not good!") gawked Pikachu. The fiend moved even faster, starting to circle the three.
"That's not supposed to happen!" The fiend slashed where Link blocked the sword with his shield. The block proved costly as the shield shattered. Link flew back and crashed into Ash and Pikachu, knocking all of them to the ground. As they got up, the fiend floated high above. It flung balls of electricity down. "Intercept them!"
("Okay!") With a leap, Pikachu used Iron Tail to strike the balls. It allowed Ash and Link to recover and get back on their feet. Ash watched as he studied the movement of the fiend.
"We need to counter its attack. If we attack while it moves, it'll strike back." Hearing Ash, Link nodded. He brought out another shield as Pikachu returned. Link pointed to the platform above. "You want me to attack from above?" Link nodded. "Okay… It's after you more than me and Pikachu. No offense." Link shook his head. Ash and Pikachu raced to the top as Link dealt with the fiend. Soon, Ash and Pikachu climbed up the platforms to the giant Main Control Unit. The fiend saw Ash and Pikachu's ascent before speeding toward them. Ash brought out his shield just as the fiend swung. The swing made contact with the shield, but not only did the shield shatter, Ash was launched into the Main Control Unit behind him. He crashed into the Main Control Unit with a sickening thud.
("Ash!") Reeling from the shot, Ash was slow to rise back to his feet. The fiend fired more electric balls and Pikachu wasn't able to reach Ash as he was zapped. He reeled in pain from the shock. Link fired an arrow that exploded when it struck the fiend. It reeled as Ash tried to recover. Suddenly, the fiend chased back after Link as Ash stood. He recovered enough to see the fiend zigzag back at Link and swung. However, Link flipped backwards from the swing. He performed a flurry of slashes on the fiend. It reeled and flew backwards.
"That's it, Link!" the woman's voice praised.
"Alright, now we have an idea," Ash plotted. Pikachu rejoined Ash as he brought out the hook swords. The fiend saw the blades and raced after Ash. Just as it arrived, Pikachu leaped up with Iron Tail and slashed it, stunning the fiend. Ash slashed several times, the fiend reeling from each strike. "Yeah!"
("We can beat him!") cheered Pikachu. Link prepared his Sheikan Slate. The fiend raced after Ash once again. When it wound up for an attack, Link used Stasis and locked the fiend in place.
"Use Iron Tail!" Leaping, Pikachu prepared Iron Tail as Ash tossed his sword. Pikachu smashed Iron Tail into the sword before it smashed into the fiend as it didn't move a muscle. The sword shattered. Finally, the chains broke, and the fiend zoomed into the wall of the Divine Beast. It staggered for a second before it screeched. Reaching the top, the fiend summoned steel rods. They rained and plunged into the walls and floor. Suddenly, electricity crackled. "Those wouldn't be lightning rods, right?"
("They look like them.") That's when a blast of electricity struck the rods that cascaded through the Divine Beast. Ash held Pikachu when the electric field ruptured. Ash screamed in pain, but Link gasped as the electric blast shocked him to the ground. His eyes were open, but he stopped moving. Ash recovered, but Link was in bad shape.
"LINK!" Just then, there was a glow.
"Link, you must keep fighting," another female voice encouraged. "You led to the other forms of Ganon. Do not falter to this form as well." When the glow stopped, Link started to recover.
"Don't scare us like that!" yelled Ash. Link waived his hand to assure his condition.
("Why did he glow like that?") wondered Pikachu. The Form of Ganon zipped down to Link as he gathered his sword he dropped when he was electrocuted. Ash watched as Link anticipated the fiend's move. Again, Link dodged the swing before returning a few swings of his own with a large sword that he needed both hands to hold.
"Let's see if that thing can take a little heat." He held Torkoal's ball before opening it as the Form of Ganon saw Ash and the Pokémon. Ash brought out another hook sword. The Form of Ganon zoomed after Ash. Arriving, it slashed at Ash, but he ducked out of the way as the sword passed him. "Now!" Torkoal blew out a massive stream of fire, scorching the Form of Ganon. The fiend was pushed back to the wall, heavily burned. "Overheat direct hit… I felt that." The Form of Ganon wasn't done as more lightning rods appeared. Link activated Magnesis and lifted the lightning rod to the fiend. Electricity crackled again as the lightning rod Link took was by the Form of Ganon. Ash turned to Link where he saw Ash and nodded.
("He wants that used?") guessed Torkoal. Ash trusted Link on the idea.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" he ordered. Listening to Ash, Pikachu used Thunderbolt again and struck the lightning rod. The rod exploded after a second of absorbing the electric attack. The Form of Ganon staggered at the shocking strike as it eyed Ash and the Pokémon again. Ash recalled Torkoal before racing down the platforms. It zoomed back at Ash and Pikachu, but Ash turned and stepped on the side of the platform before jumping off. He struck the fiend with the sword, but he hooked it to the fiend before circling to the back of it. He latched on the Form of Ganon by the mane. Pikachu was in the air. "Thought I'd give you the hook." The Form of Ganon zipped away and Ash was left dangling in the air.
(Ash!") cried Pikachu. After a quick retreat, the Form of Ganon charged back at Ash. He was helpless in midair. Before the fiend arrived, a blur came and gone with Ash vanishing along. It was Link as he soared to the ceiling. He landed his jump upside-down.
"Link?" gawked Ash. "Whoa, when did you get hops like that!?" The fiend chased upward to where Ash and Link jumped down. They met, but Ash and Link smashed heel kicks to the fiend's face. They all fell, and Ash and Link rolled off at the last second. The Form of Ganon staggered as he flew. "It looks like it's not going to take another shot." The fiend soon regained focus as Ash had an idea. "Can you do the jump again?" Link lifted one finger. "That's all we need. When I give the signal…" Link nodded to the plan. Both hands and a knee down, a swirl of wind enveloping around him. The Form of Ganon charged once more. Watching the fiend's movement, Ash waited for the right moment. "Now!" The Form of Ganon stopped and swung, but Link leaped back up to the ceiling in about a second. The fiend looked up to the sky-high Hylian, forgetting that Ash was still on the ground. Ash slashed a few times with a large two-handed sword with the last launching the fiend upward. Link leaped down and flipped before smashing the large sword on the Form of Ganon's face. The Form of Ganon flew back with malice oozing out. It shrilled in agony, convulsing throughout the moment. That's when more malice gushed from its body.
("What's going on!?") asked Pikachu. Finally, the Form of Ganon exploded. There was nothing left. To Link, Ash and Pikachu, it was all over.
"That was a fight," Ash sighed. Link patted Ash's free shoulder. Ash looked, finding a smile. "Shall we?" Link nodded as they made their way back up to the Main Control Unit. Ash took a step but collapsed. Link saw Ash's body shredded. "Sorry…" Link shook his head before bringing out a pink ball of light that had wings. It reached Ash and circled around him. The wounds started to heal.
("What did you use?") asked Pikachu. Ash started to stand, not in much pain.
"That actually feels better," he awed. Link helped Ash on his feet before they reached the Main Control Unit. There, Link placed the Slate on the panel. Suddenly, the unit became blue. Link nodded to the result. "So, that's it… Divine Beast Vah Naboris is back in your control?" His arms crossed; Link nodded some more. Pikachu heard heels clacking the ground. He turned, finding a green glowing figure.
("Company!") he warned. Ash and Link looked to Pikachu pointing to the sound. All turned to see someone.
"I knew you wouldn't let us down, Link," the voice spoke. Ash and Link saw a grown Gerudo with long and fiery red hair, looking like Riju but grown up. She wore shoulder guards, and her nose was larger than the current chieftan's. "Thanks to your valor, skill and teamwork, my soul is free and Naboris is ours once again… which means that finally… we can complete what we started many years ago." She reached the bottom step of the stairs. "We Gerudo have no tolerance for unfinished business." Pikachu squealed excitedly to seeing the new woman.
"Who are you?" asked Ash. The woman smiled at the young man as green flames emitted around her.
"And now, I meet the young man who helped Link," she awed. "I am Urbosa, chieftan of Gerudo Tribe 100 years ago and one of Hyrule's Champions alongside Mipha, Revali and Daruk in the battle Calamity Ganon." Urbosa turned to Link. "I've waited so long for the moment to see you finally rush Hyrule Castle… as well as for the moment when I incinerate Ganon into a pile of ash."
"And now," Ash spoke up. "You have your chance. With the other Divine Beasts back in Link's control, it's a great chance that Calamity Ganon won't come out victorious." Urbosa nodded.
"It started with Link, and it will end with Link," she agreed. "But it won't be without the blessing from myself… which reminds me… Please accept this gift, which has come to be known as Urbosa's Fury. It will no doubt be of use for you." A yellow light emerged and shot to Link before it bonded with him. Suddenly, Link tightened his body before he spun and snapped his fingers. Crashes of lightning struck around Link.
("Awesome!") cheered Pikachu. Ash smiled, knowing that Link got a new ability.
"I guess you're ready to cause a storm against Calamity Ganon," Ash joked.
"As for you, young man," Urbosa spoke while being by Ash. He turned to the former chieftan. "The moment I saw you after you came with Link, I imagined you as possibly a son I'd have if I had the chance to live. Nevertheless, this is for protecting and helping Link through this repossession." She gave Ash a kiss to his forehead. Ash's face became reddened, and his forehead had a ghostly green kiss mark as Urbosa turned back to Link. "Both you and the princess… I know you have suffered much regarding what happened to us Champions… but this is how things had to happen. No need to carry blame, so please… make it clear so she understands that. Tell her to shed any worries… and let her know, I couldn't be prouder of her." That's when Ash and Link began to glow.
("Now what?") wondered Pikachu.
"Now you take good care of the princess," Urbosa ordered. "Oh, and also… take good care of Hyrule." Before long, Link, Ash and Pikachu vanished. Vah Naboris was back in the control of Urbosa. What else was there for Ash?
TO BE CONTINUED...