Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. I'm pleased to see that everyone has been enjoying the different worlds we've explored thus far. I had originally planned to take us to Olympus Coliseum with Lightning Farron from the original story, but I've decided to save that for another time. Instead, we'll be visiting the world of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where Link visits the Forbidden City, also known as Gerudo Town. This should be a fun change of pace, as Link is usually a silent protagonist, but we can follow the trend of fanfiction and have him speak. It'll be interesting to see Ash follow Link around on this adventure. And who knows, maybe Ash will even crossdress as a girl again for old times' sake.

XII

Gerudo Town - I

After bidding farewell to Ruby and the rest, Ash resumed his journey, traversing the vast, tranquil expanse as he set his sights on his next adventure. Though he followed the same routine, navigating through asteroid belts and keeping a watchful eye for potential dangers, Ash couldn't shake off the words of the enigmatic Keyblade wielder he encountered in Emerald Forest.

"I'm just a Nobody." The figure's voice echoed in the Keyblade wielder's mind.

A Nobody.

Ash held onto the glider handle tightly, his mind racing with questions about the Nobodies. They sounded familiar as if he had encountered them before. But their purpose remained a mystery. Were they allies or foes? Or simply neutral beings with their own agenda? For now, he needed to stay focused on his journey and put the thoughts of the Nobodies aside. Perhaps he could seek answers from Merlin or Master Yen Sid when he saw them again.

Ash's high-tech visor soon alerted him of some unusually high readings of life up ahead. He quickly redirected his focus and continued on course towards the next world. In the distance, he could see a floating world being engulfed by a sandstorm. However, he could make out a town within it, and what looked like a massive structure resembling a royal palace. Ash had a strong feeling that his upcoming visit would be a memorable one, in more ways than one. He steered his glider towards the world and prepared for his next adventure as he entered its atmosphere.

Gerudo Town - Riju's Royal Palace

In the throne room of Gerudo Town's Royal Palace, two women were present. One was a young girl with Hylian-like ears, dark skin, and green eyes. She had long crimson hair styled in a big pigtail with a white lock and two locks framing her face, held in place by elastic bands with jewel-like accents. She wore a blue crop top with a yellow, green, and light blue design at the top, paired with a big blue skirt that had a golden belt and another belt with blue and yellow jewels. The girl also wore a golden necklace with a red jewel and bracelets on her arms. Her special crown featured a circle with three lines on each side.

Beside her stood a woman who looked much older and taller than her. The woman had a muscular build and ears that resembled those of a Hylian, with dark skin and green eyes. Her hair was styled in a ponytail, much like the chef's. She wore gold armor pieces on her arms, legs, and breastplate and was always seen with her claymore.

The young chief was feeling a bit uneasy lately due to the frequent sightings of black shadow creatures in her town. There have been reports of her people disappearing after encountering these strange beings, which was causing even more trouble. Adding to her worries, the Yiga clan had stolen her family's treasured Thunder Helm, and the Divine Beast Vah Naboris was causing chaos in the region. All of these issues were making it more difficult for the young ruler to manage the situation.

Buliara noticed her young chief was stressed and couldn't help but feel concerned. Despite her intimidating demeanor, she had a soft spot for Lady Riju. "Lady Riju, is there something on your mind?" she asked gently. Lady Riju spared Buliara a side glance and sighed, seeming deep in thought.

Riju appeared tired as she rested her face on her fist. She turned to her bodyguard, Buliara, and spoke with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Buliara, do you think I'm really ready to lead our people to a bright future like my mother did when she was still alive?"

Buliara's frown revealed her concern as she replied, "With everything that has been going on recently, I understand why you might doubt yourself. But I believe in you, Riju. You have the strength and wisdom to guide our people through these challenging times."

"I appreciate your honesty, Buliara," a small smile appeared on Riju's face.

"I'm always honored to serve you, Lady Riju," the bodyguard responded with respect.

As the two women were conversing in the throne room, an unexpected visitor caught their attention. A strange portal materialized before them, and a figure emerged from it. Buliara immediately became tense, thinking the stranger in the black coat could be a threat sent by the Yiga Clan to harm her chief. However, Riju was curious about the stranger's sudden arrival and unique clothing, despite the town's harsh environment. The figure stood before them for a moment, and then the portal vanished, leaving the chief and her bodyguard wondering who the mysterious visitor was and what their intentions were.

The sound of metal striking the ground reverberated across the room as Buliara forcefully slammed her claymore against the floor. She was trying to intimidate the intruder, but the visitor remained unfazed and calm. "You are in the presence of Lady Riju, the leader of the Gerudo. State your business and keep your distance," Buliara warned.

The Nobody seemed to dismiss the woman's warning, but he paid her no attention and turned his focus to the young chief. "I didn't come here to cause more problems for you, my lady," Riju raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "I'm actually here to let you know that you will soon have a few more visitors who will need your help."

"Hm, oh really?" Riju said with interest.

"Judging by your voice, you're a voe!" Buliara interrupted with a hiss and brought down her claymore on the floor with a loud thud. "Why should we trust a suspicious voe in strange clothing?" she said skeptically.

The Nobody let out a deep sigh, indicating that he was becoming a bit frustrated with Riju's loyal bodyguard as he redirected his focus towards her. "Does it really matter if I am or not?" Buliara gave an icy glare at the Nobody while Riju seemed impressed. It was rare for anyone to talk back to Buliara besides her mother. The stranger's response had piqued her interest completely. "The point is that-"

Buliara slammed her claymore onto the ground with an angry thud, clearly frustrated by the Nobody's lack of respect. Her face was engulfed in the shadows, giving the impression that she was extremely distressed. "This is unacceptable. Not only did you barge into our sacred palace uninvited, but now you're acting recklessly in front of my lady. I cannot tolerate such behavior." With one hand, she lifted her claymore off the ground and pointed it threateningly at the Nobody, challenging him to leave. "If you don't leave right now, voe, I will make you leave!"

'Why do women never listen?' The thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Suddenly, he extended his arm, and the Oblivion appeared in his grasp, catching Riju's attention. He aimed his Keyblade at the stubborn woman. "Fine, if you won't listen to me, then I'll make you listen!" As soon as he dashed forward, Buliara did the same, and they both swung their blades at each other simultaneously. This suggested that the outcome would be settled between the two of them.

Gerudo Desert

Ash groaned as he felt the scorching heat of the Gerudo Desert bearing down on him. Beads of sweat dripped down his face as he trudged through the hot sand, regretting his decision to land in the middle of the desert. "It's so hot," he whined, his feet dragging and his back slumped forward. The wanderer of the Keyblade hasn't come across any signs of civilization for a while. He began doubting if he even knew where he was headed. Besides the scorching heat, he felt parched and famished, probably lost in the middle of the desert. For a moment, he considered the possibility of leaving this world, as all he could see was sand, sand, and more sand, maybe a cactus unless that was a mirage induced by the overwhelming heat.

Little did Ash know, he was being observed from above by a group of flying Emblem Heartless. These Heartless had a distinctive spherical black head, with glowing yellow eyes and a jagged mouth. Their head was surrounded by a large, two-pronged, beak-like helmet that featured a black spike on either side. The helmet was orange in color, and the Heartless emblem can be seen on its top. The swarm of Rapid Thrusters had been following the tired Keyblade wielder since he arrived. They circled closer and closer, getting ready to attack their prey.

Ash trudged along the barren desert, feeling a gnawing sense of unease as he walked. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, convinced that something was following him. He quickly spun around but found nothing there. As he turned back around, he realized that the eerie noises he had been hearing were growing louder and more frequent. He couldn't locate their source until he lifted his gaze and saw several swarms of Rapid Thrusters hovering in the sky above him, their beady eyes trained on him. Ash readied himself for battle, summoning his Oathkeeper while asking aloud, "Where did all of you come from?"

The Rapid Thrusters may have looked cute, but they were still a dangerous threat. As soon as the Keyblade wielder summoned his weapon, the Heartless dove down one by one, intent on defeating him. Ash refused to back down and quickly cast a Fira spell, aiming it directly at the oncoming Emblem Heartless.

Bbbooooooooommmm

A loud explosion shook the desert as the Heartless devoured the fireball head-on, but despite the chaos, several Rapid Thrusters flew through the smoke and continued their relentless pursuit of the Keyblade wielder. Ash quickly shifted his stance and unleashed a flurry of strikes, taking down a few of the Rapid Thrusters before dodging the rest. However, he soon realized that there were still hundreds of them in the sky, and he had a long way to go. Letting out a dejected sigh, he braced himself for the battle ahead.

The battle was raging on and a young swordsman watched intently from a safe distance. The androgynous figure had striking blue eyes and long blonde hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. Dressed in a blue tunic, tan pants, brown gloves, and boots, the swordsman looked impressive. Strapped to his back was a shield and a sword, both intricately detailed. He watched as Ash held his own against the strange creatures that had recently appeared in the area. "He's really skilled," the androgynous swordsman praised as he watched Ash cast spell after spell. Despite the intense heat and arid conditions, Ash continued to rely on Fira rather than Blizzaga, which proved to be ineffective in this environment.

Ash fought bravely and tirelessly against the Rapid Thrusters, casting spell after spell until finally, one last Fira spell took out the last group of Emblem Heartless. It had been a long and grueling battle, but Ash emerged victorious.

Bbbooooooooommmm

The Rapid Thrusters were defeated and dissolved into black particles after the explosion. Their cries could be heard, adding a satisfying end to the battle. With the Heartless no longer in sight, Ash let out a sigh of relief and lowered his weapon. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the scorching desert sand but quickly jumped up with a yelp once he felt its intense heat.

The Keyblade wielder wasn't entirely sure if he was just tired or if the desert was playing tricks on him again, making him see random mirages. However, he noticed a town nearby and began to head over to it. At first, he dismissed it as another mirage, but something told him it might be worth investigating. He didn't want to miss his chance to find civilization, so he started making his way towards the so-called mirage town. As he got closer, he saw two tall women guarding the entrance. They had dark skin, pointy ears, red hair tied into a ponytail, and were dressed in strange clothes while holding spears.

"Finally!" Ash couldn't contain his excitement and sprinted towards the group of women. As he approached the entrance, they immediately drew their weapons and pointed their spears at him, causing him to stumble backwards in surprise. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, trying to catch his breath and assess the situation.

Dorrah, the left guard, barked out a warning from behind her veil mask, "Freeze! Where do you think you're going?! Not into town-that's for sure! No voe allowed! Off with you!"

Ash looked at the female guard with a tilt of his head and a confused expression. "Voe?" He repeated, not quite understanding what it meant. "What exactly is a voe?" he asked, hoping for a clear explanation.

The two guards exchanged a quick, curious look before turning their attention back to Ash. They noticed that he was brushing the dust off his clothes. It was rare for human males to visit Gerudo, especially a young one like Ash. "We don't get many human voe visitors around here. However, it's our duty to prohibit any voe from entering Gerudo," Dorrah informed him firmly.

Ash pleaded, "Can you make an exception this one time?" However, his plea was met with glares from the guards, implying that they were standing firm with their decision. "Fine," he said as he turned away and walked off from a safe distance away from the town's entrance. The Keyblade wielder let out a frustrated sigh as he approached a safe distance away from the guards. "Now, what?" he muttered to himself, unsure of his next move.

Ash's eyes widened in surprise as he heard a faint "pssst" that sounded like someone was trying to get his attention. He looked around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then he heard it again, "Pssst, over here!" This time, he spotted an androgynous swordsman hiding behind a boulder, waving at him excitedly. Ash was relieved he wasn't hearing things and walked over to the swordsman.

"Are you trying to enter Gerudo Town, too?" the blonde swordsman asked curiously. Ash nodded dumbly in response. "I understand. It seems that they have a strict policy against allowing any man to enter their town," he said, letting out a sigh and crossing his arms.

"That's what they told me," Ash said, but then became curious and asked, "Who are you, by the way?" Realizing that they hadn't introduced themselves yet, the androgynous swordsman scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Oh, right, I'm Link." Link, the Hylian hero, was introduced with a small smile. "And you are?" the man asked with curiosity, wanting to know about the name of the Keyblade wielder who fought against the strange monsters.

Ash greeted Link with a friendly smile as he introduced himself. "I'm Ash," he said.

Link commended, "You did well against those creatures you fought. I was there watching you."

Ash's eyes blinked in confusion. "Creatures?" he repeated, unsure of what Link was referring to. It wasn't until a few moments later that he realized Link must have been talking about the Emblem Heartless he had battled earlier. "Oh, you mean the Heartless," he said, nodding in understanding.

"Ah, I finally understand," Link muttered to himself upon learning that the Heartless were distinct creatures and not merely another weapon deployed by the Calamity to sow chaos. Link decided not to worry about the Heartless, as he had a feeling that Ash could handle them. Instead, he redirected their attention to the main topic at hand. "I was supposed to meet with their chief to discuss Dvine Beast Naboris, but their guards wouldn't let me through. So, I've been searching for clues about a guy who managed to sneak into the area," Link shared his current agenda with his new ally.

"Any leads?" Ash asked. He wondered whether these leads would facilitate their entry into town without any difficulties.

Link nodded and said, "I heard that he was recently sighted at Kara Kara Bazaar. I am actually on my way there right now. If you'd like, you can join me." He extended an invitation to the Keyblade wielder.

"Sure!" Ash replied with enthusiasm. However, a frown soon spread across his face as he realized they might have to walk to Kara Kara Bazaar through the hot desert. "But don't tell me we have to walk to get there," he groaned, already becoming tired of the unforgiving Gerudo Desert.

Link couldn't help but chuckle at Ash's adorable expression. He then proceeded to explain, "Although walking is one of the few options available to us, there might be a faster way to reach Kara Kara Bazaar." This immediately piqued Ash's interest.

"Which is?"

Link smiled instead of spoiling the surprise and giving an immediate answer.

Ash's voice was tense and urgent as he clung to Link's waist, Oathkeeper in hand. "They're catching up!" Together, the two of them rode a Sand Seal along the smooth, desert sands of the Gerudo Desert. The creature reminded Ash of a Sealeo or a Walrein, but it was much faster and more agile. Link acted as the navigator, holding onto a saddle with a rope to guide their ride.

As Ash and Link embarked on their journey to the Kara Kara Bazaar, they hoped for a smooth ride. However, their hopes were soon dashed as they found themselves being pursued by Rapid Thrusters in the midst of the desert. Ash, being the experienced warrior, provided cover for them by firing Fira spells at the relentless Heartless. Although some of his attacks hit their mark and sent the flying creatures into oblivion in flames, many fireballs missed the Rapid Thrusters due to the rough terrain and twists and turns of the chase. Despite the difficult circumstances, Ash held the Heartless at bay and prevented them from getting too close by continuing to cast Fira spells.

Soon, Link became aware that they were getting closer to a sand hill, which could potentially make for a bumpy landing for the heroes. "Hang on!" the androgynous swordsman yelled with a brief glance over his shoulder.

"I can't hear you with all the commotion going around us," Ash shouted to his friend.

"What?"

As the Sand Seal glided over the sand dune, the duo found themselves airborne, an opportune moment for Ash to take out the remaining Rapid Thrusters. He quickly charged up a full-power Fira spell and unleashed it at the Emblem Heartless, causing a massive explosion on impact.

Bbbooooooooommmm

As the wind gusts from the aftermath blew towards them, Ash and Link braced themselves, anticipating a difficult landing. However, their Sand Seal glided into the soft sand without any issues. The sandboard, on the other hand, experienced a rough landing, causing both passengers to grit their teeth. The impact was so intense that their feet bounced high off the platform. Ash almost lost his balance and started slipping off the board, but he quickly regained his footing by grabbing onto Link's waist with both hands. This caused the androgynous swordsman to blush a little.

After dealing with the Heartless and overcoming all the obstacles, Ash and Link finally saw an oasis in the distance as they continued on their sandboard pulled by the Sand Seal. The oasis was surrounded by rocky formations and had several palm trees. At the center of the oasis was a crater filled with fresh water, and there were also some stands set up around it. One of the stands was a general store built under a massive boulder. It looked like they had finally reached Kara Kara Bazaar.

As they approached the entrance, their Sand Seal suddenly stopped, causing the board to lurch forward and throwing Ash and Link off balance, sending them tumbling into the nearby oasis. The loud commotion of their fall echoed through the tranquil waters. After they both emerged from the oasis and caught their breath, they looked towards the Sand Seal, which had already disappeared into the desert sand. Exchanging a glance, the two heroes let out a sigh.

"Well, at lit east we're here," Link mumbled.

"And not hot anymore," Ash joked.

They shared a laugh.

Ash sat on a boulder in his boxers, leaning back on his hands and gazing at the oasis waters. The gentle breeze blew past his face, and he enjoyed the feeling of his hair swaying back and forth. His wet clothes were drying off near the campfire, which Link had set up. Speaking of Link, the androgynous swordsman had gone off to gather some intel about a man they were searching for and assured the Keyblade wielder that he would return soon. Ash turned around at the sound of footsteps approaching from behind him. It seemed that Link had returned from his search. As he looked back, he saw Link walking towards him with a slightly annoyed expression on his face.

"How did it go?" asked the Keyblade wielder, even though he could tell from the swordsman's expression how it went.

"Based on what I've gathered, it seems that we just narrowly missed him. Apparently, a Hylian vai merchant dressed in traditional Gerudo attire was seen earlier but has since left. There's a decent chance he'll be back in town tomorrow, though," Link informed the Keyblade wielder, scratching his head in frustration.

"I see, so I guess we will have to stay overnight, then."

"Seems so," Link let out a heavy sigh and then offered his companion an apologetic smile, realizing that he had been brought along for nothing."Sorry."

Ash waved off Link's apology, saying, "No worries, I'm up for an adventure. Besides, if you hadn't come along, I'd still be outside the entrance, trying to find a way in." Link looked relieved, and Ash's lighthearted demeanor put him at ease. Suddenly, Ash's stomach rumbled loudly, causing him to blush with embarrassment. Link laughed softly, finding Ash's embarrassment amusing.

"How about some dinner?"

"Sure."

As the sun set, the temperature in Kara Kara Bazaar dropped rapidly. Ash was lucky his clothes had dried by then, or he would be shivering in the cold. He sat by the campfire, watching the flames dance and flicker, trying to stay warm. Link approached him, carrying two bowls of steaming hot stew, one in each hand.

"I'm sorry if it took a while. Here you go!" The androgynous swordsman handed a bowl to the Keyblade wielder who gratefully accepted it.

Link smiled and took a seat next to Ash, the aroma of the freshly cooked stew tickling their noses. Ash couldn't resist taking a deep breath, already feeling like it was going to be a five-star meal. "Smells great."

I hope so," Link said with a chuckle. "Please enjoy."

"Well do!"

Ash and Link spent the entire night relishing their meal and exchanging tales about their adventures. Link's stories were so incredible that Ash couldn't believe he was over a century old but still looked so handsome. What was even more fascinating was that Link was trying to prevent history from repeating itself. Although it sounded insane, Ash found it to be truly remarkable. He thought his own stories couldn't compete with what Link had gone through, but the androgynous swordsman begged to differ. Link believed that Ash's journey was just as incredible as his own, from coming from a different world to exploring the multi-universes and defeating Heartless for the greater good. They were quite similar, apart from the age difference, of course.

Ash soon called it a night, knowing that they had things to do the next day and needed some rest. He stretched his arms with a smile, then looked over at his friend. However, a frown appeared on his face when Link offered to keep watch while he slept. "Are you sure?" he asked, making sure Link didn't have second thoughts. "I mean, we can always split the night shift."

Link smiled and shook his head reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's no problem. I'm used to it," he said, trying to ease Ash's mind. However, Ash still looked unconvinced.

"Okay, but don't be shy to wake me up if something happens," the Keyblade wielder offered his assistance.

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Goodnight, Link." Ash shifted his position into a more comfortable one and laid down on his side, preparing to count some sheep.

"Goodnight, Ash. Sleep well."

Link's gaze shifted to the clear, quiet sky once Ash had fallen into dreamland. The stars twinkled above, but his attention soon drifted back to the sleeping Keyblade wielder. Ash was groaning and mumbling in his sleep, and Link couldn't help but chuckle at his silliness.

"Aqua...I'm tired. Let me sleep...We can train later. No, Aqua! That's my fluffy marshmallow...get your own," Ash mumbled.

Link smiled to himself, enjoying the peaceful moment with his friend. Link's eyes drifted back to the stars as he complimented, "Aqua is one lucky master. Isn't that right, Zelda?"

The next day...

Ash had never been fond of the desert, but today's heat made it even more unbearable. Nonetheless, their mission to track down the intruder who had infiltrated Gerudo Town was about to reach a conclusion. Thanks to Link's intel, they knew that the Hylian vai merchant usually appeared in the late afternoon and could be found loitering on the rooftop of the general store. Ash hoped that this time they would be able to find the person they were looking for and finally learn the secret to entering Gerudo Town.

Ash and Link looked up at the ladder that led to the rooftop from behind the general store. After exchanging a brief glance, they started climbing up. Link led the way up the ladder with Ash following close behind. Despite the intense heat radiating from the wooden bars, their gloves were able to handle it without any issues. Link quickly reached the top and extended a hand to help Ash up as well. As they stood on the rooftop, Ash couldn't help but be surprised at how stable it was considering it didn't seem to be properly structured. However, his attention was soon drawn to a tall, muscular figure with dark skin and red hair tied back in a ponytail. The figure was wearing a violet Gerudo Veil, a violet Gerudo Top, and a violet Gerudo Sirwal, clearly showing a love for the color violet.

"Hey Link, is this the person we're looking for?" Ash whispered, making sure they wouldn't mistake someone else for their target.

"Only one way to find out," As the androgynous swordsman whispered those words, they approached the mysterious figure with caution.

Sensing someone approaching, Vilia turned around and was surprised to see two adorable youngsters. "Oh my, what lovely lads you both are. Do you need something from me?" 'she' asked in a soft yet masculine tone.

Ash and Link exchanged a hesitant glance before turning back to face Vilia. Ash spoke up, choosing his words carefully so as not to upset 'her'. "We're looking for a man who snuck into Gerudo Town. We heard he can help us figure out how to do the same."

Vilia hesitated to reply and gave the two heroes a suspicious glare. "Is that...so? I don't know if I can help you," she said. Ash and Link stared at her intently, knowing that she was lying. Vilia, mistaking their stares for admiration of her good looks, felt her face grow red under their intense gaze. "Heehee...You're making my cheeks warm looking at me like that," she squeaked in embarrassment, which was a sign she was dropping her guard down.

Ash nudged Link playfully, trying to come up with something charming to say. He couldn't help but wish Brock was here to lend a hand - he always knew just what to say to make the ladies swoon. "You're very beautiful!" Link said with a straight face.

Vilia squeaked in delight at the cute comment. "Oh, such a nice thing to say! And I'm sure you'd agree that these clothes only help my looks, right?!" Vilia was eager to receive more compliments from the heroes even though they hesitated to reply. Nonetheless, they nodded and allowed her to continue. "Now that I think about it, this style looks quite fetching on you two, but I'd have to charge you, of course!"

"Charge us?" Ash repeated in confusion, unsure if she was completely scamming them at this point. "For what exactly?"

"To wear these clothes, lad," she explained with a wink, sending a cold shiver down Ash's spine. "I bet people would see you differently if you wore them," According to her, she wanted Ash and Link to wear her clothes as female disguises despite being male. Logically, it made sense, but charging them seemed like a major scam. "So today ONLY, I will charge you both 900 rupees!" Wearing her own set of clothes was the price she offered.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Link," Ash said, feeling uneasy about the situation.

Ash quickly changed his mind after hearing Vilia's second option of taking her out to dinner. "Unless you want me to take me out on dinner!" she quipped, causing Ash to reconsider his initial choice.

"Pay her, Link! Just pay her!"

A few moments later, Ash and Link were standing in front of Vilia, wearing their own versions of her attire. Ash looked fidgety and Link seemed shy. Vilia had picked out a blue Gerudo Veil, a blue Gerudo Top, and a blue Gerudo Sirwal for Link to match his beautiful blue eyes. For Ash, she had chosen a color that resembled the Oathkeeper, so she went with a white Gerudo Veil, a white Gerudo Top, and a white Gerudo Sirwal.

Vilia couldn't contain her excitement once the two heroes were fully dressed in their female disguises. She couldn't help but let out a squeal of delight at how cute and natural they looked in their outfits. "You both look absolutely adorable!" she exclaimed, giggling like a fangirl. "I knew it, you two would make great-looking women! No one would ever suspect you're actually men!"

Ash's face was beet red as he spoke, "I-I can't believe we are doing this..." He felt so embarrassed that he was grateful for the veil mask he was wearing, which was helping to conceal his discomfort.

"A-Ash?" Ash turned his attention to Link, who was fidgeting nervously. "H-How do I look?"

Ash looked at Link with a deadpan expression. "You're really into this, aren't you, Link?" he remarked, noticing his friend's enthusiasm for the task at hand.

I initially planned to end the chapter with the night stay at Kara Kara Bazaar, but I changed my mind. Instead, I think it will be more interesting to include a scene where Ash and Link disguise themselves as females. I'm excited to see how this plot point will develop. I apologize for the teaser battle between Ash's Nobody and Buliara. In reality, Ash's Nobody would easily defeat her, so it was probably for the best that I didn't show the battle. Overall, I hope you are enjoying the story so far, particularly the references and the friendship between Ash and Link.

Extra scene: Wind

"Make sure you watch out for the wind before you go!" Vilia cautioned the young lads as they prepared to head back to Gerudo Town.

"Why?" Ash asked despite having a bad feeling where this was going.

The group was caught off guard by a sudden gust of wind. As the wind blew past, Vilia's veil mask momentarily slipped, exposing something that everyone wished they hadn't seen.

"Oh."

"...Oh."

"..."

10 seconds later...

"...About that dinner."

"Bye!"

As Ash took Link's hand, they both leaped off the edge of the rooftop and disappeared from sight. Their fate remained unknown.