The blazing sun was high above the desert once again, its dry, sweltering heat like a physical force. The surface of the desert had been completely shrouded by the raging sandstorm, with no end in sight. Even the high walls of Gerudo Town couldn't fully protect those inside from the tainted winds blowing through the sandstone buildings, threatening to yank down shop fabric and rip wooden stalls from their usual spots, the trees swaying dangerously in the gusts and obscuring the colorful culture in dusty darkness.
While this alone was enough to stress out the Gerudo civilians, what they feared most were the occasional violent shudders, strong enough to knock them off their feet. Sometimes, it would be the shaking of the ground, as if a beast heavy enough to shake the desert itself was stomping about, and when it wasn't the ground, the air itself would vibrate at the monster's sorrowful wail. Unfortunately for Gerudo Town, this beast wasn't one of fantasy but ancient, mechanical origin stomping unsteadily across the dunes nearby; a hazardous giant of gears and electricity that could crush them if it so chose.
Though the monster's wails were loud enough to be heard from the farthest reaches of the desert, its cries could be heard most clearly by the one in charge of leading the Gerudo.
She was the recently-turned twelve-year-old Gerudo girl sitting upon a throne of sandstone her body couldn't properly fill yet; a girl so little compared to the previous rulers, the heels she wore didn't fully reach the stool placed at the foot of the throne to assist her climbing onto it. As lightning flashed outside the town's walls, the child closed her eyes, unsure of what to do, the responsibilities around her crushing her very spirit. The only thing that could snap her out of her anxious trance was the sharp call of her trusted bodyguard, who stood beside the throne.
"My chief, you have a visitor," she said sternly. "Another one."
Slowly, the chief opened her eyes to see a vai—a pale-skinned Hylian, short enough to match her size—walking down the red carpet of the throne room toward her. Tiredly, she sighed.
"Yet another traveler..." she said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. "How did you get in here? I thought I made it clear I wasn't seeing any more trivial visitors today... Hm?"
Sitting up, she gave the vai a closer look. Though she wore the light, silky clothing of the Gerudo people, she was heavily armed with a bow, a sword, and a shield on her back, along with a quiver of arrows behind her waist. At this, the chief hummed in thought as she leaned back on her throne.
"It seems you have quite the interesting arsenal there..." she said. "If you're skilled in such a variety of weapons, then I'm not dealing with anyone trivial, am I?"
As the vai approached the short stairs leading to the throne, the sudden clank of the muscular bodyguard's claymore slamming on the ground stopped her.
"You stand before Lady Riju, Chief of the Gerudo! Declare your business, but come no closer!" she said threateningly. "Do not think I haven't taken note of your weaponry! If you so much as twitch toward that sword of yours, you will be considered aligned with those Yiga scum—"
"Hold on, Buliara..." Chief Riju intervened. "Look at what's on her hip."
"Hm?" The guard named Buliara raised an eyebrow and looked down at the vai's hip to see a small, rectangular device clearly of ancient Sheikah origin, glowing as if it were still functional. "Interesting. No Yiga would have such a functional piece of ancient technology."
"You there—! What is your name?" the chief asked.
"My name is Link, uh..." the traveler answered in an off-putting feminine tone. "Ma'am? Your chiefliness?"
Though her strange way of speaking hadn't gone unnoticed, the chief continued.
"Link... And what is it you've come all this way to tell me?" she asked.
"I've come to calm Naboris," the vai answered. "I believe I have what it takes to put the beast at ease."
"Such confidence," Buliara spoke up in a rough tone. "You think you have what it takes to subdue something so powerful as a Divine Beast? I find that hard to believe, considering the only ones who could even attempt, much less succeed at such a challenge, were the champions of old, such as the great Lady Urbosa, who left us more than a century ago."
"Then I should have no problem," the vai replied, to which the bodyguard scoffed.
"She and the rest of her titled equals died during the Calamity, so unless you're delusional, tell me how it is you've come to either claim that title or believe yourself to have power equal to theirs?" she asked.
"Buliara, a memory resurfaced just now," Chief Riju suddenly said, bringing a hand to her chin. "It was something my mother spoke of. During the Calamity, it was said the princess of Hyrule placed a fallen swordsman into a deep sleep. If I remember correctly, that swordsman was also named Link... Though I always thought it seemed more like a legend than fact."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Lady Riju, but I believe those same stories also mentioned that the Hylian Champion carried a legendary sword," Buliara replied. "This vai has no such weapon in her possession."
"The Sword that Seals the Darkness..." Riju said thoughtfully. "Indeed, I do recall such a detail, but I was also told the princess took the sword and hid it away in a forest somewhere for it to one day be reclaimed by that very same knight upon awakening."
At this, she noticed the vai's brow twitch. That caught her attention. Raising an eyebrow, the chief continued.
"The legend never said the Hylian Champion was laid to rest with the sword because of this," she said. "In fact, it was said the champion was laid to rest with the ancient device the princess once carried."
"You don't believe that relic to be the same as the one in the story, do you?" Buliara asked.
"Well, I can't imagine they would give something so valuable to a simple drifter. Can you?" the chief asked. At this, the bodyguard closed her eyes in thought.
"If we are to consider her relic to be the one from the story, then it is possible; however," the bodyguard mulled over the details before her. "I don't remember ever hearing of a Hylian vai among the champions. The Hylian Champion was only ever stated to be...a voe!"
The tip of her claymore clanking against the ground echoed through the halls again as the Hylian flinched. That was all the confirmation the chief needed.
"A voe within our walls is a great crime. But a voe who is a champion..." she emphasized, mainly for her bodyguard's sake. "Well, we'd never mistreat a friend of Lady Urbosa, and if you're here to help with Naboris, then our goals align."
"So, I won't be getting thrown out?" Link asked, still using his feminine tone. When the Chief shook her head, he sighed, allowing his true voice to return. "Good. That'll make this a lot easier."
"You'd better be grateful, champion," Buliara said warningly. "Most voe would never even be considered, much less allowed within our borders."
"Understood..." Link replied, giving Buliara an uneasy look before returning his attention to Riju. "If you have any advice on calming Naboris, I'd really appreciate hearing it."
"You saw it on your way to town, did you not?" Riju asked. "Billowing sandstorms and hurling lightning at any who dare approach. That is the power of the Divine Beast Vah Naboris."
"Yeah, I found all that out the hard way," Link said with a frown hidden behind his veil.
"We've done all we can with what we have, but to fully appease the beast has been impossible," the chief said, shaking her head. "But, if you truly are a champion, then perhaps you will be allowed entrance into Naboris and could possibly calm its anger."
"That I can do," Link said. "But, I'll need help bringing it down to board. No beast stays down for long, but a few seconds is all I need."
"You speak as though you've done this before," Buliara remarked. "Regardless of if you have or if you're the Hylian Champion, I don't see how we can trust a complete stranger with something as important as this task."
At this, Link furrowed his brow, ready to defend his capabilities, yet the bodyguard continued speaking.
"But, perhaps if this person were to first prove his worth by recovering your stolen Thunder Helm..."
"Ah, yes... An interesting suggestion," Chief Riju replied. When Link looked confused, the chief explained. "You see, there is only one thing in all of Hyrule that can withstand the lightning from Naboris, and that is the Thunder Helm, a family heirloom and relic of the Gerudo. But as Buliara says, it was stolen from us."
"So that's why you threatened me before," Link said, glancing at Buliara. "You thought I could have been a Yiga?"
"I'd be a fool if I hadn't been wary of it," Buliara stated. "And in a sense, I wasn't exactly wrong about you being a trespasser."
"I guess I can't argue with that logic," Link said. "If it eases your mind, though, the Yiga have been coming after me since I woke up. I should be able to get your helm back. You wouldn't happen to know where they took it, would you?"
"Our soldiers can tell you all you need to know," Buliara said before gesturing to another side of the throne room. "If you head through this arch, it will lead you to the barracks. Seek out Captain Teake and ask for a full report, permission granted by myself. And keep your disguise on. We have enough to deal with as is without having to explain why we're allowing a voe inside our palace."
"Right, I can do that," Link said, clearing his throat as if to prepare to use his feminine voice again. At this, Riju giggled.
"Heh, you know... I take heart in having such a rare visitor as yourself. Lady Urbosa must be looking out for us," she said. At this, Link smiled from beneath his veil.
"I'll get your helm back, Riju. I promise—"
"Hey! Show some respect—!" Buliara began to shout, yet Riju giggled even more.
"It's fine, Buliara. I quite like hearing the sound of my name," she said. "It makes me feel like a normal girl for once."
"Sorry, I'm just not used to dealing with... I mean, besides Princess Zelda—" Link tried to explain, still noticing the sharp gaze Buliara was giving him, yet the bodyguard sighed.
"Just get a move on," she demanded, gripping the pommel of her sword threateningly. At this, Link simply nodded and disappeared through the archway as he had been instructed. "I find it hard to believe that he's the Hylian Champion..."
"No one else would have that device he carries, Buliara. Besides, you noticed the scars on his body, yes?" Riju asked, leaning her cheek back into the palm of her hand.
"I did. They're actually the main reason I'm choosing to go along with this," Buliara answered. "Those aren't ordinary scars. With those types of injuries, it's not hard to believe he fell in battle during the Calamity, as much as his demeanor may suggest otherwise..."
"Still... I do hope he's capable enough to return my helm to me," the chief said with a guilty frown. "My people are counting on me..."
"You needn't worry, Lady Riju. If he truly is a champion, this should be an easy task for him," Buliara said. "For now, all we can do is await his return."
And return, he did. The following day, the chief stood upon the balcony of her sleeping quarters, looking out into the storm-covered city and desert for which she was responsible. Her eyes remained there until a familiar voice called out to her.
"Riju," the voice said.
Pulling her gaze away from the cloudy nightmare, Riju turned to find the Hylian Champion, still dressed in his vai outfit, walking up the steps toward her. At his presence, she smiled.
"I've been waiting for you," she said. "In fact, while I gave you my permission, I'm still surprised Buliara let you up here."
"Trust me, it wasn't without a threat. And making me promise not to be a disturbance," Link said tiredly. This only made Riju giggle more.
"I apologize for her protectiveness," she said. "As mature as I try to act, I am still a child. That I recognize..."
With a deep breath, she looked out into the raging desert storm.
"She and the people of this town look at me with nothing but warmth in their eyes, but even this brings me some pain, I must admit..." she said. "I've tried so hard to be worthy of their love, to be a worthy chief...and to prove to myself that I was worthy, too. Yet, I allowed all of this to happen... Naboris's rampage, monsters getting more vicious in the deserts, and finally, the Yiga stealing my family heirloom..."
At the mention of the heirloom, her face fell even more.
"I felt as though a shadow had fallen over me the moment that helm was out of my sight," she said. "There was nothing I could do, and everything I had tried before had failed..."
Frowning, she continued to stare into the storm, the harsh sandy breezes strong enough to blow her thick, braided hair.
"How old did you say you were?" Link asked suddenly.
"I never did, but if you're so curious, I'm twelve," the chief said. At this, Link chuckled once, to which Riju frowned even more. "Is there something funny about that?"
"Yeah, the fact that you're a twelve-year-old chief thinking you haven't earned the worthiness of your title," Link said. Losing his teasing smile, he looked out into the same storm Riju had been staring at. "The truth of the matter is, you're taking on the Yiga, monsters, and a Divine Beast...as a child."
Looking back at her, he smiled again, this time a lot softer.
"You're doing great, so don't lose yourself because of a few slip-ups," he said, reaching down for the device on his hip. After a few taps on its now illuminated screen, in a flash of blue light that surprised the Gerudo Chief, the golden Thunder Helm appeared in his hands. "You just have to keep doing your best, just like you always have, and you'll prevail."
Riju looked at the helm in Link's hands before chuckling herself.
"Are you speaking from experience?" she asked, to which Link nodded.
"Yeah," he answered. "You could say that."
"I see..." Riju answered, noticing the honesty in his eyes. Reaching up, she took the helm from him. "Yes, your arrival in the midst of all of this must surely be the work of Lady Urbosa. I refuse to believe otherwise."
With a confident smile, the Gerudo chief raised the helmet and placed it over her head. It was so large it covered even her long, pointed nose.
"Um... How do I look? Do I look strong like Lady Urbosa? You knew her, right?" she asked, but no immediate response came. Confused, she lifted the helm back up slightly to reveal her eyes. "Link? Hello?"
"Huh?" Link suddenly replied, as if snapping out of a trance.
"What's wrong?" Riju asked. "You're just staring... It looks weird, doesn't it? Is it because it doesn't fit?"
"What? N-no, it's nothing like that. I just... I just remembered something, is all," Link answered, looking as though he were trying to push whatever he had remembered to the back of his mind. Though Riju wanted to inquire more, she simply lowered the helm back over her eyes.
"So... I look all right?" she asked again. Link chuckled.
"Yeah. You look all right."
"I see. Good," Riju said, confidently putting her hands on her hips, only for the helm to tilt askew on her head as she gave a tiny "oof." At this, Link laughed.
"It's quite bold of you to laugh at the Chief of the Gerudo in her own palace," she growled, now raising her arms to hold the helm in place on her head. Unable to contain herself, though, she too gave a small chuckle, only stopped by the lightning that cracked in the distance.
Growing stern, both she and Link turned to look at where the storm appeared to rage at its worst in the distance, the shadow of the mechanical camel just barely visible as it stomped ever closer to the town's walls. Another wail from the beast vibrated through the air, rattling Riju and Link to their core.
"I believe Gerudo Town itself may be in danger before too long," the chief said, still holding the helm in place. "Even if I'm but a child, as chief and as a Gerudo, I must find some way to put a stop to this before it threatens my people even further. With this helm, I can stop the lightning from striking us. Link..."
She turned to face the Hylian Champion once more.
"Will you help me?"
Link grinned.
"Absolutely."
At the sound of his agreement, Riju giggled.
"Who would have thought that just before such a momentous battle, hearing a simple, confident pledge of support from you would be what puts me at ease?" she wondered. "It'd be to our advantage if we got close to the beast but away from the town. Will you join me, say, at the lookout post south of town?"
"I will... In a bit," Link said. "I can't fight in this outfit, sorry to say. I'll meet you there if that's all right."
"Of course. Make sure you take a sand seal there. We'll be using them if things go according to plan. We'll reconvene at the lookout," the chief said, releasing her grip on the helm, only for it to fall lopsided down her face again. "Hm... It really is a little big..."
Chuckling, Link turned to head down the stairs.
"I'll see you there," he said.
Returning Riju's wave as she continued trying to adjust her helm, he disappeared down the stairs, only to be stopped at the entrance of the palace by none other than the chief's bodyguard.
"You and the chief plan to go take on Vah Naboris, don't you?" she asked as the two now stood under the archway of the palace entrance.
"We do," Link said. "I know she's only a kid, but—"
"—but there isn't anyone else who can use the Thunder Helm. I know," Buliara finished. "If I could take her place, I'd be the one out there charging into battle with you instead of her, and if I weren't one more person the chief would have to protect from lightning, I'd still go. But I can't."
Raising her claymore, she looked at her reflection in the blade before sighing deeply.
"She's only chief because her mother's life was taken from us long before we were ready," she explained. "It robbed much of her childhood from her. Hylian Champion... Link..."
She lowered her sword and looked down into the Hylian's blue eyes.
"Do not allow her to lose what childhood she has left to this battle," she said. "While chief, she is still but a twelve-year-old girl. I am putting my trust in you. Do you understand?"
"I do. I wouldn't let her go and would handle this myself if I had any other choice," Link said. "But... I promise you I'll make sure she's okay. However, I think you'll find she's a lot stronger than she looks, especially with that helm on her head."
With a confident smile, Link nodded before leaving the archway and heading down the stairs, ready to take on the Divine Beast. As Buliara watched the disguised voe disappear into the storm that covered the streets of Gerudo Town, she looked out into the distance, watching as the barely visible camel roamed the desert dunes.
...
The lookout was a simple wooden tower, little more than a pole stuck in the sand dunes that reached high into the air with a small, planked standing area at its top. Usually, the entire desert would be visible at such a height. Now, the tower was engulfed in the dark, raging storm clouds created by the beast. The turbulent winds caused the tower to shake violently, for it was the closest structure to the rampaging mechanical beast. Despite the trembling boards beneath her feet, the young Gerudo chief stood ready at the top the tower, looking out into the storm as she listened to the Divine Beast wail, keeping her Thunder Helm on for safety.
It wasn't long before another joined her, the Hylian Champion who had promised to assist her in the upcoming battle. After climbing the tall ladder, he pulled himself up onto the platform before moving to stand by the little Gerudo, who tore her gaze away from the beast to look at him. No longer was he wearing the silky vai outfit. Instead, he wore a bright red-and-green outfit fitted with golden arm guards and a bejeweled hair tie. It was an outfit made for a voe warrior.
"Well then... That's what you really look like?" Riju asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Link asked, striving to stay balanced because of the shuddering ground below them. At his response, Riju giggled.
"With voe banned from the town, it's not very common for me to see someone like you," she explained. "You even found yourself a voe outfit. Those are forbidden, you know, but I guess breaking the rules comes naturally to you."
"Where did all this sudden teasing come from?" Link asked sourly. "Are you still upset that I laughed at you?"
"That's surprising. Can you not handle what you dish out yourself?" Riju asked cheerfully, only for the tower to shake violently once more. As both of them managed to stay on their feet, they looked toward the approaching beast, obscured by the storm but still very much noticeable. "What a sight. The Divine Beast Vah Naboris is pretty intimidating..."
"Hey," Link called out, ensuring he'd be heard over the storm's winds. Gaining Riju's attention he gave her a confident smile, one that couldn't be seen before behind his veil. "We'll take this thing down. We've got this."
After a quick pause, Riju smiled as well.
"Right. You're feeling confident for someone about to take on an ancient mechanical beast. Maybe you have done this before," she said.
"You'd be surprised. I have, actually," Link said.
"I see. You'll have to tell me a few stories about those other times then, and of Lady Urbosa as well," Riju demanded, to which Link nodded.
"I will. Maybe not until after I complete my mission, but after that, I'll tell you all the stories I can remember," he said. "I promise."
"Good," Riju beamed. "Let's get going then!"
"Hey! Before we go!' Link called out as the storm began to worsen. He held out a fist to her, which the chief looked down at, trying to keep her helm straight and her blowing hair out of her face. "Let's do this!"
After another pause, Riju grinned again before holding her own fist out as well, bumping her knuckles against his.
"Let's!"
"Buliara, I must be allowed to go," Riju demanded as she and her bodyguard stood in her large, extravagant room. "As chief of the Gerudo, I have a duty to ensure that we play our role in this upcoming restoration—"
"My chief, I understand your desire to make your presence known," Buliara replied, "and regardless of whether or not you are present at this event in Lurelin, it will not change their consideration of how our town will be a part of this."
"You say that because of my friendship with Link and the princess," Riju argued. "To think I, as chief, would forgo my duty to attend such important matters on the basis that I can rely on my friendships is absurd! That is not how a chief should act, much less a Gerudo chief."
"You may be chief, but you are still only twelve years old. You are a child," Buliara said, returning to her rumbling, powerful tone.
"A child who helped the Hylian Champion calm Naboris, who rampaged our desert—"
"Simply because you were the only one capable of assisting him due to your bloodline," Buliara said, something that took Riju aback.
"D...Did you not have faith in me?" she asked, her face crestfallen as she took a step back. "Did you believe I wouldn't have succeeded?"
"I felt as though I had no choice but to allow you to go," the bodyguard said. "It is my job to protect you, to defend you until you are strong enough to handle yourself, but I could do nothing but allow you, a twelve-year-old little girl, to go off and face such dangers as a Divine Beast. Even under those conditions, it was a foolish decision to allow it."
"Then why am I still the chief, Buliara?" Riju asked frustratedly. "Why am I sitting on that throne—?
"Because of your bloodline, our traditions, and the premature loss of your mother," Buliara answered. "The mother to whom I made a promise that her little girl would be in the best of care under me. If anything happens to you, it's on me, and I don't want any more of what remains of your childhood taken away."
"Buliara..." Riju called quietly. Meeting the girl's eyes, Buliara sighed.
"Lady Riju... You have had to deal with much at such a young age," she explained to the little chief. "The loss of your mother, the pressure of guiding the Gerudo people, and protecting us from unimaginable dangers. All of these you have handled well... To an impressive degree, in fact. But, as much as you have done and as much power as you hold, you are still a child. You are asking me to allow you to cross Hyrule with the princess, a feat that would no doubt be one of great pride but one of great danger as well."
"T-then why not send a bodyguard with me?" Riju asked. "There must be some solution to this? Some middle ground we could come up with?"
"Our numbers are short due to our responsibilities guarding the Yiga Clan at their hideout," Buliara explained. "We need them to stay at their posts, and we also need guards here to protect the town in case of an emergency, as we've seen can happen at any time, and one of us must stay in the town to maintain order."
"Then, at the very least, you can—"
"But, even that is impossible," Buliara continued, "for as the princess mentioned, there is still a single Yiga assassin out there. I can't leave you here unprotected and to send you into the rest of Hyrule without a guard... Link isn't with the princess, and the company she does travel with does not strike me as particularly strong."
At her bodyguard's argument, Riju's face fell. Lowering her head, she looked at her feet.
"I'm sorry, Lady Riju," Buliara said sincerely. "But, as your personal guard, it would be irresponsible of me to allow you to venture across Hyrule alone without any proper protection, not only as our chief but as a child as well. I have no doubt that in the future, you will leave your mark as one of the greatest chiefs and show how valuable of an asset you are to the Hylian Champion and the princess—something I'd claim you've already done—but as of right now, you need to be patient."
Upon hearing this, Riju closed her eyes in defeat, accepting that she would not be allowed to leave for Lurelin Village.
"You are correct, Buliara," a voice suddenly spoke from the open entrance of the bedroom. "She has already proven her capabilities as a leader and as someone worthy enough to stand by the rest of the great leaders we have in this new era."
Raising her head, Riju, along with Buliara, looked at the entrance to find Zelda standing in the threshold, the afternoon sun beaming down upon her back, her front slightly shadowed. At the sight of her, Buliara's features hardened.
"While I did welcome you to discuss this matter further, you're fighting an uphill battle if you believe you can convince me to change my decision," the bodyguard said. "I can assure you I will not be allowing the chief to travel with you across Hyrule."
"I'd expect nothing less, nor do I intend to try to persuade you otherwise," Zelda replied calmly, causing Riju's face to fall even further. "What I have come to discuss is you allowing her to at least attend the festival."
"What you've chosen as a counteroffer is hypocritical to what you said you wouldn't do only a moment ago," Buliara said sternly. "I assume you wouldn't have done so without reason. Explain."
"I wouldn't necessarily call this hypocritical," Zelda said, stepping into the room. "I actually believe it solves all of your concerns, Buliara. What I propose is to have Riju join us for a single night: the night of the festival. She'll leave here on the evening of the festival and return home the following day."
While the bodyguard's brow furrowed in confusion, Riju's eyes glistened with hope.
"You would give me quite the surprise if what you just proposed was possible; however, I don't see how it can be," Buliara said. "Tell me, how is it that you plan to transport the chief all the way across Hyrule in a matter of hours to reach the festival, only to be returned the following day in the same amount of time?"
"Actually, I could transport her in mere seconds," Zelda said. Reaching down, she pulled the ancient device off her hip, one both Riju and Buliara recognized as the very same one Link had used during his visits. "This device, the Sheikah Slate, allows me to teleport to wherever it is I need to be almost instantly."
"It's true, Buliara," Riju said, catching on to what Zelda was implying. "I've seen Link use it. It can summon objects and even take them away—"
"Including people," Zelda finished. The bodyguard stood quiet for a moment, thinking back to all the times she had seen Link use the device in front of her.
"It would explain how the Hylian Champion has been able to appear at such unexpected times," she said thoughtfully. "Then I suppose you wish to take the chief on the night of the festival and return her the following morning?"
"That's the plan," Zelda confirmed. "It would cut the dangerous journey out entirely."
"And what of the assassin?" the bodyguard asked. "He is still roaming free, is he not? It sounds as though Link hasn't finished dealing with him."
"I assure you, while he is free and about, he won't try anything. Link made quite sure of that," Zelda answered. "And even if he hadn't, Lurelin will be the safest place in Hyrule the night of the festival. Prince Sidon of the Zora and Yunobo of the Gorons will be attending; both individuals who are also descendants of the Champions, and their powers rival even their ancestors', much like our chief here."
Taking all of this in, Buliara looked down at the small chief standing behind her. Though she seemed a bit more accepting of the idea, Zelda said one more thing to push her over the edge.
"And, of course, Link will be there as well, seeing as I am selfishly throwing this for him. There really will be no safer place in Hyrule than at the festival that evening."
At the sound of this, Buliara's features finally softened, even if only slightly.
"Buliara, please," Riju began to plead. "I understand the position you're in, and I understand the position I'm in being so young, but I need to... No, I want to go. Not only because of my duties as chief, but..."
Raising her hand, she looked at her fingers before forming a fist.
"When Link was here helping with Vah Naboris, he did everything he could to not only save us, but show me that I, too, could be strong," she said. "Like my mother... Like Lady Urbosa...and like him. If this festival is to show gratitude toward him and help show him how far his kindness has spread, then I want to be there, as his friend."
With a deep breath, Buliara sighed as she looked down at the pleading, though confident, eyes of her chief. Turning, she looked back at Zelda, who still remained standing in the archway with her hands clasped in front of her at the waist. Suddenly, the bodyguard stepped forward, stopping only when she stood in front of Zelda. With her claymore positioned in front of her and her hands resting on the bejeweled pommel, Buliara stared down at the princess she towered over.
"You swear to me that the chief will be safe in your care?" she asked. "That she'll be safe that evening and will return that morning with nothing but a smile on her face?"
"That I promise you without a single doubt in my mind," Zelda said unflinchingly. After a silent pause in which the two stared at each other, Buliara closed her eyes and nodded.
"To think you actually found a way to sway my decision. That happens rarely," she said before turning to Riju. "I will allow it."
"Buliara..." the chief said with a smile. "Thank you. You have no idea how much joy it brings me to be able to attend."
Giving her a nod, the bodyguard turned back to Zelda.
"You're one impressive woman, concocting a plan so quickly that will work in everyone's favor," she praised. "I can tell you've grown, even in the past few months since our last meeting. You will make an excellent leader for this new kingdom."
"Thank you, Buliara," Zelda said with a slight bow. "Your praise means a lot."
"I won't harp on it now, for it seems you have more pressing matters to attend to, however," Buliara continued. "As princess, I can bring this to your attention. We need to find a solution for the Yiga Clan. We can't keep all of our guards there indefinitely. Eventually, we do need them back here in Gerudo Town. Please, keep that in mind to help find a solution."
"I will. In fact, that's something that's been plaguing the back of my mind for a while now," Zelda replied. "I'll figure something out."
"Very well. I will leave you two to discuss your festival plans, then," Buliara said, moving toward the staircase. Before stepping down, she turned back to Zelda once more. "Will we be seeing you tomorrow, as well?"
"I believe we'll be on the road by tomorrow," Zelda said. "Time is running short, and we still have to visit and converse with the Elder of Rito Village."
"Good. Get that reporter out of here as soon as you can, by any means necessary," Buliara demanded. "Take too long, and I will not hesitate to throw her into the sand again."
"R-right... I understand," Zelda nodded. "I apologize for her..."
Buliara simply grunted before disappearing back into the throne room, leaving the chief and the princess alone in the bedroom.
"I know she just said it, but the fact that you actually managed to change her mind is quite impressive," Riju said, stepping across the room toward the princess. "That truly is a feat worth taking pride in."
"I can believe that quite easily, knowing her," Zelda giggled as Riju came to a stop beside her.
"She was right, you know," the chief said. "Being able to come up with such a plan so quickly was incredible to witness. I wish to be able to do that."
"To be quite honest, I didn't quite come up with it on the spot..." Zelda admitted. "I actually waited on the stairs and listened in on your conversation. I feel bad for eavesdropping, but it gave me the information I needed to turn Buliara's decision around."
At this, Riju laughed.
"That's not very princess-like of you!" she said happily. "That's something I feel Link would have done. Tell me, did the inspiration come from him?"
"You could say that," Zelda giggled. "Link certainly had much to do with my growth. It was a hard winter, to say the least, but a little bit of patience and listening were all I needed to do to make it easier. I failed at that the first few times, but... I'm glad to see I'm doing a lot better at it now."
"I see... Well, I'd say you are, at least," Riju said with a smile. Zelda giggled.
"Thank you, Riju," she said. "I also worked at an inn for a bit. You learn how to listen out for people when they need drinks, and the repercussions for missing an order are not something you'd like to deal with."
"You worked at an inn? The Princess of Hyrule working an actual job? Well, that's got to be quite the story," Riju exclaimed.
"There are many stories I could tell you," Zelda said with a warm smile, looking up into the clear skies over the desert. "I could tell you about my boss and her persistence in learning about my relationship with Link, these two nasty ladies, and an even nastier horse I needed to work with. I could tell about these drunkards I met and even how Link managed to punch one of the villagers while intoxicated."
"That...sounds like a time," Riju said, raising an eyebrow. "You talk about it as if it were a pleasant experience."
"It was a little challenging, but...it was pleasant. I learned some valuable lessons," Zelda replied, the desert breeze blowing through her golden hair. "And I made some valuable friends. In fact... I'm quite excited to return and do a few more shifts over the weekends again."
"Hm. It certainly sounds like you've had a busy winter," Riju said with a smile. After a moment, though, her smile vanished. "Princess... How is Link doing?"
"Link is... Well, he's doing better," Zelda answered. "I haven't seen him in a few weeks, but I believe he's doing his absolute best right now. If I may ask, when was the last time you saw him?"
"He visited here near the beginning of winter," Riju answered. "He wished to speak to the leader of the Yiga, wanting to know if he knew what the freed Yiga was planning."
"I see. I'm sorry if he worried you," Zelda said. "As I've said, it's my fault he was in such a state to begin with. I should have listened to his concerns. I do promise you he is doing better, and I intend on being better for him."
"Ah, such love you have for your knight," Riju teased, to which Zelda giggled.
"Funny you should mention that. Link and I are together now," she said. Riju gasped.
"You two got together? Romantically?" she asked. When Zelda nodded, the chief sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Well, it's about time. I was afraid it was never going to happen after watching you two dance around each other the day after you got drunk."
"That is not fair. I was drunk, and everything had caught me off guard!" Zelda said, her cheeks burning a bright red. "I swear, learning that Link felt the same way hit me almost as hard as the headache I had after all of that..."
"But, you're together now, and that's what matters," Riju said. "Lady Urbosa would be happy to hear it."
"What makes you say that?" Zelda asked, surprised at the chief's comment. "You speak as though you knew her."
"I didn't know her personally, of course, but her diary was left in this room I inherited from her," Riju explained. "She had hoped you two would bridge the gap you had before. From what I read, you were pretty stubborn back then, even more than you are these days."
"Urbosa... She teased me a lot back then. She'd use her lightning powers to scare me every now and then just to get a reaction out of me, simply to take whatever frown I had off my face," Zelda complained, yet a smile remained on her face, looking more nostalgic as she spoke. "She was the first person who could make me smile after my mother's death, and she could always see all the effort I was putting in. She was like...a mother to me."
"That's how I feel about Buliara," Riju said as she gazed up into the clear desert skies. "She's stern, protective, and keeps me in this strange middle ground of treating me as a chief and a child. But she took care of me after my mother's passing. Link showed me I had what it takes to be strong, but Buliara showed me how to be strong, because she's the strongest person I've ever met. Princess...?"
"Yes?" Zelda asked.
"Do you think you'll be a great leader like your mother was?" the chief asked.
The princess didn't immediately answer. She shifted her focus down to the desert itself, silently contemplating the chief's question before speaking once more.
"I'm...not entirely sure," Zelda finally answered. "I don't remember much of her. She died when I was very young, and the only person who really spoke about her was Urbosa, who was close friends with my mother. Yet, all Urbosa spoke about was how wonderful a person she was and how much she loved me, never about her qualifications as queen."
Pausing, the princess took a deep breath.
"Sure, I've been compared to her a few times, but... It's Urbosa's words that stand out to me the most," she said. "So, instead of trying to be a great leader like my mother, I think I'll try and be a great person like her, one who makes people want to speak about me the way Urbosa spoke about my mother."
Giving Zelda a look, Riju giggled again.
"I think you'll make a wonderful queen," she said. "It sounds like you've had some pretty amazing role models."
"I guess so," Zelda said thoughtfully. "Urbosa, my mother... Even my father."
"I feel the same way about Buliara and my mother. Even Link," Riju said. "And you, of course."
"Me?" Zelda asked, looking over at the little chief. "Why me?"
"Beyond being able to get Link to notice your feelings even after being a drunk mess?" Riju smirked teasingly. Noticing the princess's frown, she giggled. "And watching everything you've done. You managed to convince Buliara to let me go to this festival of yours, you're rebuilding the kingdom after holding back the Calamity Ganon for a hundred years, and Lady Urbosa spoke very highly of you in her diary, along with your struggles, yet you still prevailed. I'd say you definitely deserve to be an inspiration to me."
Surprised, Zelda stared at the chief for a moment before smiling.
"Thank you, Riju. Truly," she said. "Say, if you don't mind..."
"Hm?" Riju hummed.
"Do you... You said you have Urbosa's diary, yes?" Zelda asked. "Do you mind if I take a look at it?"
"Not at all," Riju answered. "I think she'd be happy for you to read it. I'm sure there's much in there she would have liked for you to see. Come, it's next to my bed."
Happily, the two turned from the desert view and entered the room, heading toward the bed where the diary rested, its pages open and ready to be read once more.
"You know, Link read her diary, as well."
"That doesn't surprise me at all."
...
Once again, the sun began to set, the golden hour suffusing the desert with muted color. As the town began to cool down with the vanishing sun, the shop owners set about cleaning their shops and resting for the evening, while others strolled through the town, laughing and talking about the events of their day. Though most simply walked home or hung around in little gossiping groups, some wanted a more relaxing place to talk, preferably sitting on couches with a cool drink in their hands. For those who wanted an evening such as this, there was only one place to go, and that was the Noble Canteen.
The Noble Canteen was on the far east side of the sandstone town, built on a higher level, requiring a staircase to get to its front door. The bar itself wasn't very large, with one counter run by an elderly Gerudo woman (who was still spry enough to deal with anyone who got out of hand) and one large common room filled with couches and tables, all decorated in colorful drapes and silks. While most of the room was occupied by Gerudo women, all in their little groups, one group was different from the others—consisting of two Hylians and one Sheikah, all of whom had drinks in their hands, with several empty glasses already on their table.
"Aha! I haven't had one of these in so long," Celessa practically sang with a drink in her hand. It was a colorful concoction—an orange liquid with a mountain of ice on top, arranged in a glass that was wide and short at the top, long and thin at the bottom, with fruits hanging off the rim. Swishing the glass between her fingers, Celessa leaned back on the couch and sighed in relaxation. "I needed these after today..."
"I hope you know you've said that four times already," the person sitting beside her said. "You know, if anyone needs these, it's me. I didn't get a single line of notes written down, and I'm still waiting for clarification about literally everything."
"You're still on that?" Celessa asked. "The princess said she would give you answers tonight, right?"
"I better get them tonight..." Traysi fumed, taking a sip of her own drink. "I think I've waited long enough. My patience can only last so long."
"It's been half a day," Celessa said. "Relax! Enjoy your Noble Pursuit! You know, the princess had one of these before. A lot of these, actually. That alone is quite a story, I'd say."
"A story? Of how the princess had her first drink?" Traysi asked. "Doesn't sound too entertaining, or even rumor-ish for that matter."
"If you knew the story, you wouldn't be saying that," Celessa giggled. "You didn't hear that from me, though. You should ask the princess herself about it."
"If you weren't going to tell the story, then why'd you even bring it up?" Traysi questioned quietly, crossing one leg over the other as she, too, leaned back in her chair. "I still find it hard to believe she is the princess, and yet here I am following these terms of hers."
"You're still in denial?" Celessa asked. "Come on, the chief and bodyguard of the Gerudo weren't enough to prove it? Or the fact that she met with the Zora? You can't deny the Zora; they literally knew her back then—"
"The Gerudo could have easily been lied to, and she could've made up her story about meeting with the Zora for all I know," Traysi said. "That isn't proof at all."
"What's the point in waiting for her to answer all of your questions if you're just gonna claim all of it is hearsay?" Celessa asked with a frown. "Hey, wait a moment, what about Paya?"
"What about Paya?" Traysi asked tiredly.
"If there's anyone out there who'd know who the princess is, it would be the Sheikah clan, right?" Celessa asked. "She's a Sheikah, and she knows Zelda is the princess! That's the whole reason she's here!"
"Hm. I guess that's true. The Sheikah would be considered reputable sources," Traysi murmured. "But... I find it hard to believe she's Sheikah."
"Well, that's a little rude," Celessa snapped, shooting Traysi a glare. "How could she not be a Sheikah? Didn't you see her outfit earlier today? That was Sheikah gear, you know; and what about her hair? Do you know many Hylians with silver hair? She even has a tattoo on her forehead with the Sheikah emblem—! Paya, look this way!"
"H-huh?" the second person at Celessa's side mumbled. Swaying, she looked over toward Celessa and Traysi. "W-w-why am... Why am I—? Ah..."
Suddenly, Celessa's hand smacked against Paya's forehead—a little harder than intended—before pushing up her white bangs.
"See? That's an authentic Sheikah tattoo," Celessa said, gesturing toward the red eye and teardrop on Paya's forehead with her half-full glass of Noble Pursuit.
Squinting her eyes, Traysi leaned over Celessa's lap to get a better look, eventually reaching forward in order to touch Paya's forehead herself, which made Paya gasp again at the touch of the reporter's cold fingers.
"Hm... Well, it definitely feels authentic," Traysi mumbled. "I guess that's a start."
"A start? After everything you've seen, that's just a start?" Celessa asked, dropping her hand from Paya's head, causing her bangs to fall back into place and Paya to start swaying again. Traysi simply shrugged.
"What can I say? It's only been half a day," she said stiffly, leaning back again to finish her glass. "Just like you said."
"That isn't fair! You don't get to use that whenever it's convenient!"Celessa cried, reaching over to hold Paya's arm to ensure she wouldn't fall over.
"Well, maybe your sources should be a little stronger. She doesn't seem like a person with much information, now does she?" Traysi asked, causing Celessa to exhale in frustration.
"It's not her fault! This is the first drink she's ever had!" the pilgrim defended. "She didn't know she was a lightweight! We just need to build her tolerance up, that's all! Isn't that right, Paya?"
"Y-y-yes, o-of course... W-what...? What are we building...?" Paya asked slowly. "T-the... kingdom? Rebuilding the k-kingdom... Right?"
"That's exactly right!" Celessa cheered, placing an arm around the Sheikah's shoulders before lightly shaking her, causing Paya's head to wobble even more. "We're rebuilding the kingdom—!"
"Oi! You Hylian lot over there!" an older woman's voice suddenly called. Both Traysi and Celessa looked toward the front of the bar to see the owner glaring at them. "Don't you see how we, Gerudo, talk quietly? You're disturbing the rest of my guests! Either quiet down or call it a night!"
"I think that's a sign for us to head back to the inn," Traysi said. "I'd rather not add to the list of places I've been kicked out of, at least not another Gerudo one..."
Convincing Celessa that it was time to leave, the group paid their tab and stumbled down the tall staircase to the road. Managing to keep Paya from falling, the three found their way to the inn, though the sun had long set by the time they stepped through the door. As they made their way to their rented beds, they found the fourth person of their group sitting on one of the beds with a book in her hand.
"Princess!" Celessa cheered happily. "You made it!"
"Oh dear," Zelda said, looking up from her reading. "I should have known Celessa would take you all to the Noble Pursuit. Is Paya all right?"
"I think they're fine—Hey, let me go!—I think they just need to lay down," Traysi said, trying to guide both the pilgrim and Sheikah toward their beds.
Giggling, Zelda watched as the two crashed down onto the bed they had rented, dropping off to sleep practically the moment their bodies hit the mattress.
"Thank you for looking after them," Zelda said from her bed. "If Celessa took you all drinking, then I'm sure it must've been quite an interesting time."
"I can't say that it wasn't, but I also can't say I hated it," Traysi admitted with a tired sigh. Zelda chuckled.
"You seem a bit tired and maybe even a tad bit tipsy," she said. "I hope you aren't so far gone you want to miss out on the explanation I owe you."
"Nice try, Princess, but not a chance," Traysi said, sitting on the edge of Zelda's bed. Eagerly, she reached into her bag and pulled out her writing implement and notebook. "I've been waiting far too long for this. You owe me every single detail, the truth."
"As long as you don't print what it is I need you not to," Zelda said, sitting up a little straighter, closing the journal she had in her hands, revealing the words, Diary: Lady Urbosa, Chief of the Gerudo, on its front. "I promise there's a good reason for it, and it all goes back to a hundred years ago..."
Link darted from side to side, trying to keep the thin red beam off the center of his chest. With every step, a laser would fire toward him, missing by mere inches, and a much larger beam—burning a bright blue as it fired past him—barely missed his bare skin. He'd had almost no time to react the moment his body appeared in a flash of blue, forming on the teleport pad that had transported him from the previous floor. Once again, the room was an elongated rectangle, with a ceiling glowing blue at the top and a bottomless pit of never-ending darkness that would consume the hero if he fell into it. Thankfully, this wasn't much of a concern, for the same constant, powerful updraft blew from the abyss just as the other rooms before. The only challenge in this room was the stationary guardian. It was much thinner than a mobile one, stationed on one of the few ledges that stuck out of the walls, aiming its singular blue eye and firing its violent beams at its newly-appeared target.
Avoiding the beams left and right, Link dashed off the platform he had spawned on, jumping into the turbulent winds. Ignoring the watering of his eyes and the rippling of his skin caused by the force, he extended his arms with his fingers outstretched, grasping the paraglider that appeared in a sudden flash of light. Once again being yanked by the arms, the wind filled his sail, forcing him higher in the room. Winds and the echoing booms of the guardian lasers filled his ears as he shot upward, releasing the paraglider just before he would have slammed against the glowing ceiling above.
As the paraglider vanished, he stretched his arms and legs, skydiving back down through the winds, tilting his body as necessary as he continued dodging the beams aimed at him. The rectangular floor shook as the guardian's attacks slammed against the ceiling after every failed attempt to incinerate its tiny target. As Link dived down toward the guardian, he pulled a crudely made wooden bow from his back. Pulling the bowstring, an arrow nocked and ready, he released.
The arrow struck the guardian's swirling blue eye, causing the mechanical beast to spark and twitch, its head jerking from left to right, its circuits disoriented from the blow. With the machine momentarily malfunctioning, Link exchanged the bow for an old axe and, with a powerful swing, struck the eye with the heavy blade as he landed on the platform it was stationed on. Jittering and sparking even more, the guardian struggled to reorient itself, charging its laser once again.
Recognizing its final attack was incoming, Link pulled another salvaged weapon off his back—a shield he had found on one of the previous floors. With a final, unbalanced blast, another bright blue beam of energy shot forth; yet even in such close proximity, it was no match for the timing of Link's swing. With a bash of the shield, the laser flew back, striking the eye and causing the guardian to explode into bits and pieces. Placing the shield on his back, Link watched as the charred bolts and gears flew away, carried by the harsh winds within the room.
A guardian on floor four? Link asked himself as he watched the teleport pad in the room brighten with blue light. Sure, the floors before this weren't too bad. I've really gotten used to fighting in the air while flying to each platform. Granted, those barricades the lizalfos had put up were a little much—but a guardian?
Preoccupied with the level of difficulty so early on, Link jumped off the platform again, using his paraglider to glide across the winds to the other platforms in the room. He had learned from the previous floors that some of the random wooden crates and barrels held secret stashes of food and materials. Gathering whatever it was he could take with him, he flew across the room one last time before landing on the glowing platform, where he was again transported.
This time, there weren't any powerful winds, nor were there any monsters. It was a peaceful room with a floor covered in grass and trees, chests and boxes sitting between the tree trunks, and a river of water surrounding it. At this, Link's brow furrowed even more.
"Already?" he asked out loud, looking up at the gently swaying canopy of leaves above him. "Did a floor like this appear around this time during the last set?"
Confused, he looked down at his hand.
"Have I...just gotten stronger?" he mused.
Humming in thought, he opened all three chests to reveal a fancy bow of Rito origin, a broadsword like the ones used by the knights of Hyrule a hundred years ago, and a simple pair of Hylian trousers.
"Pants?" he asked. "Oh boy. If I'm being gifted clothes, I must really be in for it on the next set of floors..."