Sir Link Outset found that both the ruins and Riju herself were not that hard to find. However, Link was slightly confused as to what was happening. Link was aware that Riju had developed a power similar to Urboasa's Fury, courtesy of Zelda. But he wasn't aware of how much training Riju apparently needed with it. Each strike was a fair margarine away from where Riju had set up practice dummies.
Well the training Riju had already gone through would have to be enough. Link walked up to her just in time to see her take a deep breath, raise her Scimitar and miss the dummy once again. Link tried not to let this turn of events put down his spirit, but it was hard not to worry.
"Missed again." Riju mumbled unhappily. "If I can't hit my mark, it won't do anyone any good."
Link stepped forward, hoping that the clink of his armor would alert her to his presents. She looked like she could use a break anyway. She turned slowly to face him, and her eyes widened.
"It's you…" She smiled, sheathing his scimitars and placing two fists on her hips. "This changes things. I didn't expect to see you here, but then again… you always show up in unusual times. Welcome back to Gerudo Desert, Link!"
Link greeted her with a smile before delving into the same explanation he gave Buliara.
"So Hyrule Castle rose up into the sky, Zelda vanished right in front of you… and now you've come here looking for clues."
Link nodded, at her hoping that maybe she knew something that Buliara didn't. Zelda may have chosen to visit Riju at some point. His worry must have shown on his face because Riju put a hand out, almost as if to rest it on his shoulder.
"Link, I understand how you're feeling. Zelda is a dear friend to me as well. I will do everything in my power to help you." Riju paused and looked towards Gerudo Town, even though the sands shielded it from view. "But to do that, I need to bring a quick resolution to a problem we Gerudo are facing…"
"The raging sands and the Gibdos?" Link asked, and Riju nodded.
"Physical attacks don't work well against the Gibdos. They are slow, but they still make investigating the Sand Shroud difficult. I've been practicing striking that dummy over there with lightning… If I can aim the lighting well, I think it may be an effective weapon against the Gibdos." Riju then looked down at her own hands, and she put them into fists. "This technique is… unrefined. I only recently discovered it and still need more practice. I need to master this power so I can use it to defeat the Gibdos." Riju turned back to Link. "If I can do that, we can investigate the source of the Sand Shroud, and search for Zelda as well. I must ask you, will you help me with my training? I have an idea."
Link nodded and Riju smiled wide.
"During the battle of Gerudo town, I discovered that I can use arrows to help me aim my lighting strikes. Fire one at that dummy over there."
Link nodded and drew. When his arrow hit the dummy, Riju swung down with her Scimitar and the lighting torched the dummy.
"Ha! There we go! Now let's try something a little trickier…"
Riju and Link practiced with the lighting for a half hour before Riju was satisfied. Honestly, Link didn't mind. This was great training and he was having fun with Riju at the same time. They hadn't actually gotten to know each other well during Vah Naboris's rampage, so this was a welcome way learn more about her. When they were done, Riju turned to him. Her big smile hadn't left her face the whole time.
"I can't thank you enough for your help Link!"
As soon as those words left her mouth, Link felt it again. The golden wind maneuvered its way between them and was gone in the next moment.
"What… was that?" Riju asked. "It didn't sound like any noise the Sand Shroud has made, that's for sure…"
Link felt a shock when he realized it. Riju was another Sage, wasn't she? Her ancestor was calling out to her… there must be a temple in the desert!
"You heard that too, right? It was…"
Before Link could explain what he'd just realized, a Gerudo warrior ran up to them.
"Chief! We've received word that a swarm of Gidbos are attacking Kara Kara Bazaar!" the warrior, Faundi, said. "Buliara is already on her way there!"
"She's already…" Riju thought for maybe two seconds before straightening up. "Okay, understood. Thank you! Link, we need to head for Kara Kara Bazaar at once!"
Link nodded, and they both started running. Even with the storm, Riju seemed to know where she was going.
It was just as Faudi had described. Gibdo's were marching on the Bazaar. Buliara and other Gerudo warriors had set up barricades but without lighting, they could do nothing against the monsters. Link and Riju wasted no time in charging her power and letting loose an arrow. They hit one monster before Riju turned to Buliara.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting!" she said, before turning to her troops. "I'm here now, and we're going to wipe out all the Gibdos at once!"
"These monsters stand no chance!" Buliara said.
The Gerudo cheered and Link and Riju sprung into action. Riju stayed behind while Link charged the swarm, alternately using her power and his own electric spear between when she needed to recharge. Shortly into the battle Riju noticed that the Gibdos were coming from a tall mushroom looking structure that glowed with an angry purple light. The underside of what would be the mushroom cap routinely opened and Gibdos fell from the holes.
"We need to destroy that somehow, otherwise we'll be overrun!" Riju yelled across the battlefield. Link nodded, already thinking that the hives might be weak to Riju's lighting, like the Gibdos were. Sure enough, once he was close, Link shot the purple part of the hive, and the whole thing came crashing down. Then it was just a matter of killing the rest of the Gibdos, and with Riju's help, they fell easily. Link looked back to see that Riju was gathering the troops after their victory.
"Buliara, well done holding the line until we were able to get here. Now that we know that the Gibdos are vulnerable to lighting, this gives us a major advantage."
"It was my pleasure and duty, Chief Riju." Buliara siad, bowing to her. Their conversation stopped when a rumble came from the direction of Gerudo town. Link looked across the Bazaar's oasis and spotted a familiar figure.
"Is that Zelda?" Riju asked. Link ran forward immediately, calling out to his friend.
"ZELDA!"
But another rumble came again and Link fell. When he looked up, sandy tornadoes had sprouted up in the distance.
"That's bad." Riju said. Apparently she'd followed Link but hadn't tripped when the tornadoes erupted. "Gerudo Town is in danger!" Riju screamed, quickly helping Link up. Link himself was still looking for Zelda, but she'd disappeared. At least she wasn't in danger of being swept up by the sandstorm anymore. Riju seemed to follow Link's eyes and she let out a scream of her own.
"ZELDA WAIT!" Riju took a shuddering breath in, and Link noticed how distraught the Gerudo Chief looked at Zelda's disappearance. "She was heading directly towards those tornadoes. And if more Gibdos are hiding in the storm… Buliara, we need to get back now!" Riju said.
"Yes Chief." Buliara said, already walking, and the Gerudo warriors followed suit.
"Link, I'll meet you in Town." Riju said before sprinting off with her warriors. Link himself took out his Purah Pad and teleported to the Shrine of Light in Gerudo town.