Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the additional scenes and content added to a story. As for Riju's age and potential involvement in Ash's harem, it's important to stay true to the established canon and portray characters in an appropriate manner. It will be interesting to see how the story unfolds and whether or not Riju's feelings for Ash develop further.

XIII

Gerudo Town - II

Ash and Link stood a few feet away from the entrance of Gerudo Town, both disguised as females. Despite having seen the same two female Gerudo guards since his last visit, Ash wondered whether they ever took a break from their shift. He hoped that their female attire would be enough to convince the guards that they were women as well. After all, if Vilia was able to sneak in, then they should be able to as well. However, Ash couldn't believe that he was wearing such revealing clothes. He had crossdressed a few times during his Pokémon journeys, but this was on a whole different level.

"Shall we?" Link leaned in close and whispered in a cute, almost feminine voice. It was almost as if he was trying to pass as a girl, with his delicate, androgynous features and soft-spoken demeanor.

As the warm breath of his friend tickled his neck, the Keyblade wielder felt a slight blush spread across his face. He tried to maintain a strained, straight face as he glanced over at his friend. "You're really serious about this, aren't you?" he asked, unable to resist the question.

Link chuckled, his smile betraying his amusement. "Well, it's not every day that we get to dress up as women. It's definitely a first for me."

"Not for me..."

"What was that?"

Ash tried to keep his voice down after his squeak drew the attention of the guards. "Nothing!" he whispered. "L-Let's get this over with already," he said with a sigh, which Link nodded in response.

Ash and Link walked together, their steps slow and measured, as they approached the female guards. The guards seemed to be preoccupied with something else and didn't seem to notice them. As they passed by, Ash and Link breathed a sigh of relief. Their disguises as women seemed to be working perfectly. But they knew this was just the beginning. The real challenge lay ahead as they were about to enter the heart of Gerudo Town, where they would encounter more Gerudo women. The town was a sight to behold, with a cooler temperature and stunning views all around. But Ash and Link couldn't afford to be distracted by the beauty around them. They had a mission to complete.

As they walked down a path lined with perfectly aligned palm trees, three on each side, they came across a peculiar merchant who looked like a rock. Link explained that it was a Goron, but he was a little confused as to why a Goron was present in a town full of Gerudo women. Soon after, they arrived at a set of staircases, accompanied by a customized fountain system. Link had a hunch that the paths would eventually lead them to the throne room, where they could find Gerudo Chief Riju, who typically spent her days there. As they made their way up the staircases and walked past the two Gerudo guards who were preoccupied with other Gerudo citizens, they finally arrived at the throne room.

As soon as Ash and Link stepped into the throne room, they were taken aback by the scene before them. It was utter chaos - as if a tornado had just passed through. Statues were crumbled and scattered on the ground, the floor was marked with deep craters, and water from the fountains was splashing all over the place. The only thing that seemed to be untouched was the throne itself, which a young girl currently occupied with dark skin. She looked incredibly young - perhaps only twelve years old - but there was a maturity to her that belied her age. Standing next to her was a tall, battle-worn woman who looked like she belonged in an Amazonian army.

Riju's attention was drawn to their presence as she noticed them standing at a safe distance. Her interest was immediately piqued. "Oh, it seems like the hooded voe was right about your arrival," she commented, which drew confused looks from her visitors.

"Wait, you were actually expecting us?" Ash asked with his normal voice, which immediately drew suspicions from Buliara. "I-I mean...hehe, sorry if we were late," He tried to make his voice sound more feminine, but it came out sounding forced.

While the Gerudo Captain didn't seem convinced by Ash's sudden change of tone, the Gerudo Chief appeared amused and even chuckled at Ash's silliness. "You're quite the funny one, aren't you?" she remarked, smiling.

"This impulsive behavior would normally throw you into the dungeon," warned Buliara with a sharp glare.

"This is not the time to act rashly, Buliara," Riju said, raising her hand to calm her protective bodyguard. "We must first understand why our visitors have come before we make any decisions."

"My apologies, Lady Riju,"

"You there-" The Gerudo Chief seemed to be curious about the identity of the visitor as she shifted her gaze towards Ash. "-what's your name?" she asked.

"It's...Ash," came the hesitant reply. Ash wasn't sure how to answer since he didn't want to blow their cover by revealing his name.

Riju raised her eyebrow at the name. "Ash, huh... That's a very peculiar name for a human vai."

Ash was unsure of what a vai was, but he still wanted to put the Gerudo Chief at ease. He told her that his name was simply a shortened version of a girl's name. "It's actually short for Ashley," he explained, even though he didn't particularly care for that name.

"I see," Link caught Riju's gaze and met it with a calm expression. He could sense her uncertainty, but he didn't want to push her too much. Instead, he patiently waited for her to speak again. "And you?"

"I'm Link," he said, pausing for a moment to recall a nickname that only a select few people used for him. "It's short for Linkie," he explained awkwardly, which elicited a strange look from Ash. He'd heard his fair share of terrible nicknames, but 'Linkie' was in a league of its own. It was as if a five-year-old had come up with it.

Ash and Link approached Riju with a sense of purpose. "Riju," Ash began, "we need your help with something important." Riju's curiosity was piqued, but she already had a hunch as to what they were seeking. She had encountered a mysterious figure in a black coat earlier and knew that it was related to the request.

"What is it you've come all the way here for?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

"I heard the Heartless were here in your town and I'm here to handle them," Ash explained confidently, drawing curious looks from the Chief and the Captain, almost as if they had heard about it before.

"I'm here to calm Naboris," Link added, which also drew looks from Riju and Buliara.

Ash couldn't help but be curious when the Gerudo Chief spoke up. "So what that hooded voe said was true then?" she asked, her tone serious.

"Who is the hooded voe?" he asked, feeling confused and wondering who she could be talking about. After a moment of thinking, the Keyblade wielder realized that she was probably referring to the mysterious figures in black coats. "Oh, she must be talking about the Nobodies," he muttered under his breath, hoping that nobody noticed his slip-up.

"Hm? Did you say something, Ash?" the amused Riju asked as she fixed her gaze on the muttering Keyblade wielder.

"Oh, um...I was actually a bit curious about the hooded voe you mentioned," he said with a hint of nervousness in his voice. "What is said about them?"

Ash didn't like the smug smirk that curled up on the young chief's lips as she explained, "Oh, that? The voe mentioned that two strange-looking traveling visitors will come to me and help with my problems." Ash and Link fit the descriptions perfectly. However, the next thing the chief said made their hearts drop. "And the voe also mentioned they would be dressed in Gerudo traditional attires."

Riju watched with amusement as Ash and Link flinched. It seemed their cover had been blown before they even knew it. How had the Gerudo Chief known they were male in disguise unless the Nobodies had been keeping tabs on them and informed her before their arrival? Either way, they were caught red-handed, and the situation didn't look promising. Buliara appeared ready to kick them out for trespassing, but surprisingly, Riju seemed to be alright with their presence.

"Voes within our walls is a great crime. But a voe who is a Champion and a voe who's also a Wielder of who can conquer those strange monsters...Well, we'd never mistreat any allies who came to help," the Gerudo Chief said, reassuring the swordsman and Keyblade wielder. Her words put their minds at ease and they smiled in relief.

"Thank you, Lady Riju," Ash said respectfully, which put a smile on Riju's face.

Riju greeted the duo with a giggle. "My, well-manned too, I already like you," she said. Ash felt a slight blush spread across his face behind his mask veil while Link playfully elbowed him in the ribs. Riju's bodyguard shot him an icy glare, but Riju quickly redirected their focus back to the main objective. "If you two can really help us then we appreciate it."

"I'm sorry, Lady Riju but I have to beg to differ," said Buliara, her words drawing a curious look from her chief. "I don't see how you can trust complete strangers with important tasks. Perhaps if they were first prove their worth by recovering your stolen Thunder Helm." Despite what the mysterious voe informed them, she remained skeptical that Ash and Link could help with their problems, but she made a strong case nonetheless

"Ah, yes...An interesting suggestion." Riju reclined on her throne, mulling over her bodyguard's suggestion. Her face showed a mixture of disinterest and annoyance as she leaned her cheek against her fist. Buliara had a way of spoiling her fun. After some time, the Gerudo Chief came to a decision. "Alright, Ash and Link. If you can retrieve the Thunder Helm from the Yiga Clan, we can formalize our alliance," she announced with a smile on her face.

As Ash and Link embark on their latest adventure, their unwavering determination is palpable. Their mission is clear: to retrieve Riju's stolen heirloom by confronting the treacherous Yiga clan. With a steely resolve, the duo is undaunted by the trials that lay ahead, ready to face any obstacle in their path.

"Are we there yet?" Ash, in his usual outfit, held onto Link's waist tightly as they glided through the vast Gerudo desert with the assistance of a Sand Seal. Despite the strong winds blowing against his face, he managed to shout out and communicate with Link as they journeyed on.

Link quickly responded with a brief glance and said, "Almost!" before returning his focus to navigating the rough terrain of the desert and steering clear of any hidden rocks or bumps in the sand.

Buliara had given some intelligence to Ash and Link about the location of the Yiga Clan hideout. She had mentioned that it was situated in the north and one could reach there by passing through the Karusa Valley via the Gerudo desert. To make their travel smoother and quicker, Link needed a Sand Seal, which he was able to tame like a natural. Soon in the distance, Ash and Link spotted a valley with tall rock pillars jutting out from the sand. Several red banners hung atop these pillars and canyons, indicating that they were heading in the right direction and getting closer to the clan's hideout. Link navigated through the thick sandstorm and around the pillars, evading lunging Shadows and Neoshadows as they passed through. Eventually, they entered Karusa Valley. As they ventured deeper into the valley, Ash couldn't help but notice strange stones and rock formations that had a weird upside-eye symbol. This symbol suggested that they were entering the enemy's territory. They saw more red banners dangling above their heads as they passed through, but soon they encountered giant rolling boulders blocking their path. Although it was difficult to navigate around each one, Ash decided to help Link by casting a Fira spell at each of the boulders using his Keyblade.

Boom

Bbooooooommm

Bbbooooooooommmm

A series of explosions suddenly echoed through the valley, sending rock pebbles and debris flying in all directions as the fireballs hit the boulders. The path ahead was now clear for Link to navigate through. However, their progress was soon halted as they reached a dead end, and the only way forward was to climb up the cliff in front of them. After they got off Link's shield, which they had been using as a sled, and thanked the Sand Seal, they began to climb. Link led the way, and their ascent was brief as they quickly reached a ledge that led to a new path. Link helped Ash up by offering a hand, and they continued on their journey towards the Yiga Clan's home base.

As they walked down the path, the swordsman and the Keyblade wielder both had a sense of unease as if they were being watched. The valley was eerily silent and Ash had a feeling that something was about to happen. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a mysterious figure in a red and black jumpsuit with a white faceless mask. The figure had an upside-down eye symbol on the mask similar to the one Ash had seen earlier. The figure stared at them before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind a set of red talismans.

In a matter of moments, the Yiga Clan Footsoldier reappeared in front of Ash and Link, surrounded by a cloud of smoke and red talismans. Both Ash and Link drew their weapons, ready to defend themselves. The footsoldier abruptly shot an arrow straight at Ash. But before it could hit him, Link quickly came to his rescue, blocking the arrow with his shield.

"Thanks, Link!" The Hylie swordsman spared a brief glance and a smile with the Keyblade wielder before redirecting his focus back to the Yiga Clan member.

Link let out a fierce yell and charged towards the footsoldier, catching him off guard. He lunged forward with his blade, but the clan member vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving Link to strike at thin air. Red talismans were scattered around as the clan member reappeared a few feet away, out of harm's way. Suddenly, more puffs of smoke appeared around Ash and Link, and they found themselves surrounded by five more Yiga Clan Footsoldiers. The footsoldier called in reinforcements, and the situation became even more dangerous.

Ash and Link quickly exchanged a glance and nodded before going their separate ways to handle the threat individually. Ash charged at the three footsoldiers using a frontal assault tactic, but they responded by immediately firing a round of rapid arrows at him. Ash leaped backwards to avoid some of the arrows that struck the ground where he had been standing a moment ago. He deflected other arrows with his Oathkeeper while swatting away the rest. In retaliation, Ash cast Fira and sent a set of fireballs towards the footsoldiers. However, they were able to evade the Fira spells by disappearing in a puff of smoke, and the fireballs passed through. The Yiga Clan members reappeared in the air above Ash's head and fired more arrow shots at him. Ash instinctively read the arrows and sidestepped, ducked under some, and swatted away the others with the Keyblade. He then jumped upward to join the footsoldiers, surprising them. Ash quickly charged a full-power Fira and launched it at the startled trio.

Bbbooooooooommmm

The sound of the explosion caused the footsoldiers to scream and they were sent flying backwards, their bodies smoking. In the midst of all the chaos, Ash took advantage of the situation and lunged forward in midair. He delivered a powerful combo of strikes at each immobilized clan member, hitting them one after the other with critical strikes. After landing safely on his feet, Ash watched as the members of the Yiga Clan fell to the ground with a loud thud, groaning in pain.

The wielder of the Keyblade blinked in surprise as he looked down at the Yiga Clan Footsoldiers lying defeated at his feet. He hadn't expected the battle to be so easy. As he gazed at his Oathkeeper, he couldn't help but wonder if every time he engaged in combat, his skills continued to grow and improve at a rapid pace. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. However, he pushed those concerns aside for the moment and turned his attention to Link, wondering how he was faring against the rest of the Yiga Clan members.

Link moved swiftly and with precision, his blade cutting down a Yiga Clan Footsoldier. The masked fiend groaned and fell backwards with a loud thud. Without wasting a moment, the swordsman lunged forward and struck another member of the clan. The masked footsoldier winced, but Link wasn't done yet. He followed up with a powerful slash, then a chain of swift vertical and horizontal strikes that found their mark. Finally, he thrust his sword forward once more, forcing the footsoldier onto his back with a groan. The last footsoldier tried to catch Link off guard by firing a quick flurry of arrows at his back. However, Link spun around and swiftly blocked the arrows with his shield. Without wasting any time, he grabbed his own bow and started shooting arrows back at the enemy, jumping backward to keep his distance. The two engaged in an intense archery battle with Link expertly deflecting each incoming arrow from the Yiga Clan Footsoldier.

As the battle between Link and the Yiga Clan member dragged on, it seemed like neither of them was making any progress. However, Link refused to give up. He concentrated all his energy on his last shot and fired with all his might. The arrow was so powerful that it broke through the opposing arrows and hit the Yiga Clan member in the shoulder. He was knocked off his feet and fell to the ground, groaning in pain. This signaled the end of the battle and Link emerged as the victor.

Link breathed a heavy sigh of relief before he heard Ash calling out to him. "Link!" The androgynous swordsman directed his gaze to the approaching Keyblade wielder and smiled. "Nice work!" Ash's words of praise made him chuckle, feeling proud of his accomplishment.

"Same with you," Link reciprocated the praise and both heroes took a quick glance at the groaning bodies of the Yiga Clan members. They knew that this was their chance to infiltrate the clan's base before more members arrived. "We should get going. There's no telling how long they will be out for," He suggested an idea and earned a nod of approval from his friend.

"You're right. Let's go!"

Ash and Link made their way towards the Yiga Clan Hideout's entrance with haste. To their surprise, there were no guards posted at the entrance, which they found to be a stroke of luck. As they stepped inside, they couldn't help but feel apprehensive, hoping they wouldn't encounter any more strange individuals like the footsoldiers.

Yiga Clan Hideout

Ash and Link felt a sudden dip in temperature as they entered the Yiga Clan Hideout. Despite the chill, they had bigger concerns on their minds. In front of Ash and Link stood a strange octagon-shaped altar that immediately caught their attention. The altar was surrounded by lit torches, which only added to the eerie atmosphere that surrounded it. The duo couldn't understand why the altar was there in the first place. It was almost as if someone had purposely placed it there to attract unsuspecting victims to their doom. Not wanting to take any chances, Ash and Link decided to steer clear of the altar and walked past it slowly and cautiously. The Hylian and the Keyblade wielder felt as though they were wandering through a labyrinth, surrounded by eight paths adorned with identical decorations. Each path had an eerie, upside-down eye banner hanging above it, with two torches illuminating the way forward. The doorways to each path displayed a fiery logo, adding to the sense of mystery and intrigue. It appears that someone intentionally designed the entrance to the Yiga Clan Hideout to be confusing, possibly to deter intruders from discovering the true entrance.

"Hmm..." Ash's humming caught Link's attention and he watched as Ash crossed his arms, deep in thought. They stood at a fork in the path and each option seemed equally risky. Ash looked to Link for guidance, realizing that their decision could make all the difference. "What do you think?"

Link blinked but quickly refocused his attention on the eight paths before him. Ash's question had merit; none of the paths looked particularly promising. However, Link trusted his friend's intuition and knew that they would ultimately choose the right course of action. Ash was taken aback by the smile on his friend's face. "I'm fine with whatever you pick, Ash," he said, and for a moment, Ash wondered if he was being completely sincere.

"Are you sure?" Link gave a nod, indicating that he was okay with whatever decision the Keyblade wielder would make. "Okay..." he said uncertainly.

Ash paused for a moment to consider his options, but his attention was quickly drawn to a faint trail of black aura energy that seemed to be visible only to him. When he asked Link if he could see it too, the swordsman shook his head and confirmed Ash's suspicions. Without hesitating, Ash followed the trail, and Link followed closely behind him. Eventually, they followed the strange energy trail to the center path as they climbed up the stairs. The trail seemed to stop in front of the door with the fire logo on it and Ash noticed that the dark aura was getting stronger past the logo. He wondered if there was a hidden passage behind it and cautiously reached out to touch it. To his surprise, his hand went right through the logo with a faint swoosh sound indicating that it was actually curtains, not a door. Pushing the curtains aside, they discovered a hidden passage with another flight of stairs leading to the actual hideout of the Yiga Clan. Ash glanced back to Link and grinned.

"Looks like you were right about trusting my intuition," He joked, causing Link to chuckle.

Ash and Link made their way up the new set of stairs and followed a secret and complex path to an unknown destination. During their journey, they stumbled upon a prison cell where they met a Gerudo woman named Barta who had been captured. She warned the pair to be cautious and avoid attracting the attention of the Yiga Clan, as it would be challenging to escape the base without fighting the entire clan if they were spotted. Barta advised them to use Mighty Bananas to distract the patrolling guards as bananas were the Yiga Clan's favorite snack. Ash and Link thanked her and offered to free her from the cell, but she declined, explaining that it would cause more chaos if the Yiga Clan noticed she was missing. However, they promised to return for her once they had retrieved the Thunder Helm. Barta requested that they focus on finding Riju's heirloom first.

Ash and Link made their way deeper into the Yiga Clan base, carefully following the narrow path. They narrowly avoided being spotted by a powerful Yiga Blademaster, who seemed much stronger than the Footsoldiers they had already defeated. Luckily, they found some Mighty Bananas lying around and used them to distract the Blademaster and sneak past him. They continued navigating the complex maze of the hideout, avoiding unnecessary battles with the Yiga Clan. Finally, they arrived at the treasure room, where they hoped to find the Thunder Helm in one of the chests or crates.

"Find anything yet, Link?" Ash asked his friend across the room as he opened a chest, but to his disappointment, he found only a few rupees and several sets of Gerudo women's clothes inside. He closed the latch with a sigh, feeling a bit frustrated.

"Nothing yet..." The Hylie swordsman seemed to be struggling as he opened up some wooden barrels, only to find more Mighty Bananas inside. He closed the lids with a sigh of disappointment, realizing that his search was proving to be unsuccessful.

"Where could it be?" Ash wondered aloud.

"This is going to be a challenge. Even if we do manage to find it, leaving without being spotted is going to be quite difficult," Link said with a worried expression etched on his face.

"That's true, but we'll think of something when the time comes," Ash replied. His response somewhat put his friend's mind at ease.

"You're right. Let's keep searching," Link advised with a smile.

After thoroughly searching through all of the boxes, pots, crates, and chests, and even looking behind the stands, Ash and Link were starting to feel like their search was a lost cause. However, Ash's sharp eye caught something strange about the wall in the corner of the room. Although the markings on the wall didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary, the way that the wall aligned with the markings gave Ash a hunch that something was off. He approached the wall and began to study it closely, running his hands over its surface in search of a hidden switch or button. Sure enough, he felt a faint breeze against his fingers, confirming his suspicions that there may be a secret passage hidden behind the wall.

"Link!" Link paused his search momentarily and redirected his focus towards the Keyblade wielder. "I think I've found something," Ash said to the swordsman who approached him.

"Did you find some hidden passage within the walls?" Link couldn't help but ask his friend, even though he had a feeling that he might already know the answer.

Ash chuckled and said, "You read my mind." He then pressed his hands against the wall, almost as if he was trying to move it, in order to trigger some mechanism. "Give me a hand with this," he requested.

Link and Ash stood before the wall, ready to push it open. With a nod, Link placed his hands on the rough stone surface and applied pressure. At first, the wall didn't move, but they didn't give up. They pushed with all their might, and after a few moments, a rumbling sound filled the room. The wall scraped against the floor as it slowly slid open, allowing a cool breeze to pour through. Without a word, they stepped through the open passage, eager to discover what lay on the other side.

Ash couldn't believe his eyes as he saw the familiar sight of Karusa Valley with its red banners and lanterns hanging above. "Are we seriously back outside?" he said in disbelief. In the distance, there was a massive crater that seemed like one small misstep could be fatal. The swordsman and the Keyblade wielder made their way towards it cautiously, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings to ensure that they weren't walking straight into a trap.

"Seems like it," Link took in the view of the valley, his eyes carefully surveying every detail. "It could be the b-" However, before Link could finish what he was going to say, an unexpected voice suddenly interrupted.

"Hey!" The tone of the voice was quite grumpy and almost seemed annoyed.

Ash and Link suddenly stopped in their tracks, looking around frantically for the source of the mysterious voice that had echoed through the area. Despite their best efforts, they couldn't see anyone nearby. "Did you hear that?" Ash asked, hoping he wasn't imagining things. Link nodded, indicating that he had heard the voice too.

Ash and Link were taken aback as a puff of smoke and red talismans materialized behind them. Turning around, they saw a Yiga Clan member standing a few feet away. Unlike the others they had encountered, this one was a bit pudgy and had a self-important collar attached to his attire. His black hair was tied straight up, and he sported an upside-down eye mask with sharp, curvy horns that gave him a slightly demonic appearance.

The leader of the Yiga Clan let out a tired sigh as he stretched his arms and neck, the sound of bones cracking filling the air. He then turned to see his young intruders who had entered his domain. "Who the heck are you guys? And what are you doing in my napping spot?" The leader's face twisted into a scowl as he spoke, his voice dripping with anger as he glared at the Hylian swordsman and the Keyblade wielder behind his mask. But as he took a closer look at Link, he suddenly seemed to realize something, and his expression changed to one of surprise. It was then that he noticed the hero's all-too-familiar androgynous features. "Wait a minute..." In a state of disbelief, he frantically rubbed his mask with his arm, as if it was his face, leaning forward in astonishment. "It's YOU! You're that Link guy I've been looking for!"

"Wait...you know this weirdo?" Ash's surprise was evident in his tone as he asked the question, completely ignoring the Yiga Clan leader who seemed to have taken offense at his comment. Meanwhile, Link shook his head, possibly indicating disagreement or disapproval.

"I've never seen him before," Link admitted.

"Weirdo, you say?!" Ash and Link immediately turned their focus back to the Yiga Clan leader as he shouted. Soon, the masked figure changed his demeanor and started posing in various positions as he revealed his true identity. "I am the leader...Of Yiga Clan!" He performed a series of movements, clapping his hands and feet together before bringing his locked hands to the left and kicking one of his feet up high. "The strong!" He executed identical movements but shifted his interlocked hands to the right side. "The burly!" He spun around in a complete circle and lifted his hands, which were locked together, towards the sky while looking upwards too. "The one! The only!" Then he spun around once again, completing a full rotation before turning to face Ash and Link. He stood with one foot planted forward and his hands spread out, striking a proud pose. "Master Kohga!"

The atmosphere was tense as a gentle breeze swept through the area, carrying a stray tumbleweed with it. Ash and Link stood in silence, their expressions deadpan as they looked at the self-proclaimed Master Kohga of the Yiga Clan. They didn't know how to describe him - was he serious or just a clown? Perhaps he was both. It was hard to tell whether he was taking them seriously, but if he wasn't, maybe they should take him down quickly to make a point.

Ash and Link shared a quick look before turning their gaze towards Master Kohga. The Yiga Clan leader appeared to be getting anxious while beads of sweat began to form on his mask. Ash and Link's smug grins added to Kohga's unease. In no time, the air was filled with Kohga's painful screams, as the sound of blades slashing and punches being thrown echoed through the area. Finally, a loud explosion signalled the end of the fight and Kohga was seen flying backwards towards the edge of the crater, looking defeated.

Ash and Link observed Kohga from a distance as he struggled to stand up, holding onto his arm and refusing to accept his defeat despite his exhaustion. "Who would've thought...I'd be done in like this...And by you guys, of all people!" As Ash and Link gave him smug looks, he couldn't contain his frustration and started throwing a tantrum, stomping his foot in a fit of anger. "You think I'm just going to let this stand?! Do you?!"

Ash's eyes widened in surprise as he noticed a dark aura beginning to envelop the leader of the Yiga Clan. It was a clear indication that his anger was awakening the darkness within him. As Link observed the growing tension in the atmosphere, he too sensed the intensity of the black and purple energy emanating from Kohga's body. The Yiga Clan leader seemed to revel in this newfound power, laughing maniacally as his mask suddenly began to glow red. "Mehehehe...Ahahahaha!" The clash between the Hylian swordsman and the Keyblade wielder against Heartless Kohga was imminent. They stood firm, weapons at the ready, knowing that the enemy was preparing for a final assault to bring them down to their knees. "With this power, I will unleash my secret technique! This is the end!" He shifted his composure into a more comfortable stance after declaring his statement.

Heartless Kohga stood with his hands clasped together and pointed his fingers upwards as if he were performing a hand sign for his technique. The ground beneath them began to shake violently as the dark aura grew more intense. Link and Ash braced themselves for the worst as Heartless Kohga focused on his impending attack. Suddenly, in a cloud of black smoke and red talismans, a massive metal ball of spikes with an upside-down eye logo appeared and hovered off the ground. It too was engulfed in the same dark energy as the Yiga Clan leader's as it slammed into the ground with a loud rattling sound.

"Behold! The secret technique of the Yiga Clan!" The Heartless Yiga Clan leader boasted, not realizing that the giant spiked metal ball was tilting backwards due to the off-balance surface towards him. "Only the leader of the Yiga Clan...can use this secret technique. It is...the ultimate..." All of a sudden, he saw his own contraption coming towards him, gaining speed and causing him to panic. He flailed his arms frantically, trying to get out of the way, but lost his balance when the spiked ball hit him. They both went tumbling off the edge and into the huge hole. He let out a cry that echoed all the way down, followed by a loud thud.

Ash and Link were left in utter shock as they couldn't wrap their heads around what had just taken place. It seemed that their plan of confronting Heartless Kohga was unnecessary as he ended up defeating himself. Suddenly, a chest appeared before them, enveloped in a cloud of smoke and adorned with red talismans. They approached it with caution, each step calculated and measured. Upon reaching the chest, Link knelt down and undid the latch, lifting the lid to reveal the Gerudo heirloom they had been searching for. It was a golden helmet complete with family jewels and lightning bolt-shaped adornments. With Riju's Thunder Helm now in their possession, the final step was to return it to her safely.

Let's head back now that we have the Thunder Helm," Link suggested, and his friend nodded in agreement.

"This is a big concern," Ash said with a frown. "The only question is how? We can't simply walk across the big hole and the only way back is going through their base again without getting caught," he added with a deep sigh.

Ash and Link both agreed that the only way to return to Gerudo Town was to retrace their steps through the Yiga Clan Hideout. However, Link expressed his concern that the clan might have increased their activity in the absence of their leader, which could make the journey more challenging. As they were discussing their options, Link suddenly turned to Ash with a smile on his face. Ash felt uneasy, sensing that Link had something embarrassing in mind, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to be involved.

"No, Link!"

"..."

"I said, no!"

"..."

"I'm not doing it! You can't make me! That's final!"

Ash was standing with a visible expression of annoyance on his face. He was dressed in a white Gerduo traditional woman's attire and his eyebrow was twitching violently. Ash couldn't believe he had agreed to be a distraction for Link, dressed as a girl long enough for Link to sneak past the guards and escape with Riju's heirloom. At the corner of his eye, he could see Link hiding behind a pillar with the Thunder Helm in his arms, waiting for his cue to sprint towards the exit once all the Yiga Clan members blocking the escape route were distracted by "Ashley."

Ash took a deep breath and let out a frustrated sigh. He knew he had to be cautious as he approached the group of Yiga Footsoldiers and Yiga Blademasters. "Here goes nothing..." he thought to himself.

The Yiga Clan members turned around as they sensed someone approaching them from behind. They noticed Ash standing there waving nervously with a cute smile on his face. "H-Hi...!" he greeted them with a soft, timid tone.

There was a sudden silence that lasted only a moment before the hideout was filled with shouting, screaming, and the sound of charging footsteps. "Get her!" Ash felt a jolt of fear as the Yiga Clan charged towards him. He quickly dodged their attacks and managed to create a gap between them. Taking advantage of the situation, Link ran towards the exit. Ash breathed a sigh of relief before refocusing on the Yiga Clan members. He summoned his Oathkeeper Keyblade and a small smirk appeared on his face beneath his white veil mask.

Running with the Thunder Helm tightly held against his chest, Link struggled to navigate the desert sand without the sand shoes, which limited his mobility. He also felt guilty about leaving Ash behind with a head start, but they had promised to meet up again should he manage to escape from the Yiga Clan Hideout. Thankfully, Link made it out unscathed.

Bbbooooooooommmm

Without warning, a huge explosion shook the ground beneath Link's feet. He immediately stopped in his tracks and looked back, relieved to see that he was a safe distance away from the source of the blast. As the dust settled, he could see that the Yiga Clan Hideout had been completely destroyed, with debris scattered in every direction and thick black smoke rising into the sky. Concerned for his friend's safety, Link wondered what could have caused such a violent explosion.

"Ash..."

Abruptly, Ash appeared in his female disguise riding his Keyblade glider through the thick smoke. Link, who was worried about his safety, was relieved to see him. He waved happily at Ash, but before he knew it, the Keyblade wielder grabbed his wrist, yanking him off his feet. They were now gliding through the desert sky and Link was dangling high with Ash still gripping onto his wrist. Link pressed the Thunder Helm desperately with his other hand against his armpit as they headed back to Gerudo Town.

"Great job!" Link commended, looking up at Ash who seemed to be avoiding his gaze, still sulking about being used as a female decoy earlier. Link then brought up something that had been on his mind for a while. "Why didn't we think of this earlier?" He was referring to using the Keyblade glider for their travels, which would have made things much easier.

Ash warned Link, "Don't make me drop you!"

"You know, Ash...You look very cute in that outfit," he said with a grin, teasingly.

"S-Shut up, Link!" exclaimed the Keyblade wielder, his face blushing faintly behind the white veil mask as the glider accelerated towards Gerudo Town.

"I see you've returned," Riju greeted the two voe visitors who had just come back from their long journey from the Yiga Clan Hideout. They had all gathered around her room staircase for some reason, and Link was once again dressed in his female disguise due to the Gerudo law against male visitors entering the town. As she looked closer, she couldn't believe her eyes. Link was holding her heirloom in his grasp. "I always had faith that you both would succeed. Thank you so much for retrieving my family heirloom," she said, expressing her gratitude to her new allies.

"You're most w-Hm?" Before Ash could respond to Riju, he felt a vibration in his white Gerudo Sirwal. He quickly retrieved his communicator, given to him by Cid, which was ringing with an incoming call. Ash saw an image of a ringing phone on the screen and pressed the red button to answer the call. A familiar blonde man appeared on the screen, gnawing on his toothpick. "...Cid?"

"How's it going, kid?" Cid couldn't help but feel relieved upon seeing his young prince in one piece despite his grumpy demeanor. However, as soon as he noticed the ridiculous attire that Ash was wearing, he couldn't resist palming his face and shaking his head. "You're fortunate that damn ninja brat or Aerith didn't spot you in that attire. Otherwise, they would have acted like silly fangirls," he commented.

"Y-Yeah..." Ash replied with a sweatdrop appearing on the back of his head. "Please don't mention that to them," Curiosity piqued, both Riju and Link leaned in to get a better view of who Ash was talking to. "A-Anyway, is there any reason you called, Cid?" the young prince asked.

Ash was taken aback by Cid's sudden change in demeanor. The blonde man heaved a deep sigh and looked visibly annoyed. "That old loony wizard wants to see you as soon as possible," he said curtly. Just as he insulted Merlin, Cid swiftly ducked under a magical beam of light that narrowly missed him. This caused him to throw out some curse words at Merlin, who was in the background before returning his attention to Ash. "Just get your ass back here on the double!" With that, the call abruptly ended, leaving Ash feeling bewildered and confused.

He didn't know what to expect, but it was clear that whatever Merlin wanted to discuss was of great importance. Ash's journey had taken an unexpected turn, and now he found himself heading back to Radiant Garden, the world he was destined to rule over someday.

You weren't expecting to see Cid, didn't you? Yeah, it was a cheap way to get Ash out of Link's world before I wrote too much. Speaking of which, this is by far the longest chapter I wrote for this series. I didn't expect the visit to Gerudo Town would drag on a little longer than expected. That's why I didn't put much effort for Ash and Link to face off against Master Kohga or his corrupted version since he's already a joke of a boss fight as it is. I do enjoy Ash and Link's chemistry since BOTW Link is a bit more laidback than most Link incarnations. Anyway, I'm still undecided rather or not if Riju will be added to Ash's harem. We will see. As for Ash's revisit to Radiant Garden, it will focus more on his past relating to Radiant Garden itself. There might be a few surprise appearances along the way too. Plus, it's also a good stopping point for his journey. You might consider the Radiant Garden chapter a filler.

Extra scene: Group selfie

"Ugh, why do we have to do this again?" Ash, still disguised as a girl, groaned as he was pushed to the center of a group selfie with Link and Riju. This was not the first time he had asked this question.

"Since you're unexpectedly leaving, we need a keepsake," Link explained with a hint of sadness. He tried to find the best angle to take a quick snapshot with his Sheikah Slate, hoping to capture the moment forever. With a gentle arm around Ash's shoulders and a peace sign held high, they both smiled for the camera. "Just in case, you don't come back in time for the final boss," he added, his voice tinged with worry.

Riju put on the Thunder Helm over her head, completely covering her face. "Plus, I never had a selfie before," she said, leaning forward on Ash's shoulder with her feet dangling off the ground. "So, it should be fun to do it with my new allies."

Ash shot a sharp glare at Link and accused him, "You're not planning on selling the photos to the Gerudo women for rupees, are you?"

"Of course not..." Link lied as he took another quick picture with him, Riju and Ash.

"Link!"

"Shush! I'm taking the photo now! Everyone get ready!"

Ash signed but had an evil smirk when everyone got into their poses.

"1...2...3-Hey!"

The photo captured by the Sheikah Slate showed Ash laughing while pulling down Link's Gerudo Veil hood over his eyes. Riju can be seen falling off Ash's shoulder as the Thunder Helm was tilted backwards due to the sudden movement. The image appeared to be ruined, but it was still a memorable moment.