"You already want to head to Divine Beast Vah Naboris?" Buliara asked, currently bandaging her wounds as she sat on the steps of the Gerudo warriors' meeting room. Link nodded, looking up to stare at at the ever-brightening blue color of the sky as the sun began to rise before turning back to watch the large, red haired woman wrap white bandages around her arm. "Do you not believe you should rest, Hylian Champion? I know Teake and them said something about 'magic bubbles', but you were impaled and burned. I believe you should take it easy these next few days."

"Those magic bubbles basically bring me back to full strength and rejuvenate me," Link said with a smile as he looked down at his hand. "I don't even need to sleep once it's activated. Plus, something tells me you won't be resting either."

"I have a duty to the chief, I mustn't grant myself the luxury of rest," Buliara said as she tightened the bandages on her arms. She flexed her muscles a bit before reaching for the gold claymore that sat leaned against the wall of the stairs. However-

"Allow me to grant you that rest, Buliara," a young voice came from up the steps. Link and Buliara turned towards the side entrance of the sandstone palace, watching as Riju stepped out into the dim morning sunlight.

"No, my chief," Buliara said as she stood on the steps, wincing in pain just a bit. "We may have secured the Yiga, but someone must be here to guard you-"

"Then Link can guard me," Riju said with a smile. Link furrowed his eyebrows before looking between Riju and Buliara.

"Um, I need to get to the Divine Beast..." Link said, slightly confused as to how Riju came to this sudden decision. Buliara too seemed just as confused. She looked around a moment before focusing yet again on the little chief.

"Riju," she started. "I believe even you see the list of problems with having Link guard you here at the palace."

"I do," Riju said, her smile remaining bright. "That's why Link won't be guarding me here at the palace. I shall be tagging along with Link to Vah Naboris."

"Riju, you can't leave the palace. You need to remain here, where it's safe," Buliara said strongly, grabbing her claymore as she began walking up the steps. "We don't know why the Yiga had the power to control Malice as of yet. We also don't know if we secured all of the Yiga escapees or where Kohga is. There's too many outliers. I need to be here, guarding you."

"But Buliara, you need to rest!" Riju said stubbornly. "This is a chance for me to leave the palace with protection. Buliara, you are incredibly strong. You have proven this during the battle, however you must rest!"

Buliara and Riju continued to go back and forth as Link watched on silently. Riju wanted Buliara to be well, while also wanting to leave the palace. He observed as Riju's eyes became increasingly desperate, wanting nothing more to experience anything else than just sitting on a throne. He couldn't help but remember Riju's words only hours prior to the raid of the Yiga's hideout:

You're the only one I can really be a kid around...

Link couldn't help but feel those words were similar to words Zelda had spoken a hundred years ago about being a normal girl around him. Now that he thought about it, Zelda and Riju were oddly...

"Buliara," Link suddenly spoke out. The large woman turned towards the Hylian Champion, her sharp green eyes staring down into Links bright blue. "There are Gerudo guards watching over the hideout, yeah?"

"That is correct, however-" Buliara began, however Link interjected.

"So the Yiga are secure from what we know. All of them had been unconscious ever since the malice was removed from their body after I defeated the Malice eyeball. And Kohga has once again fallen down the hole, and last time he was out for months. Combine that with Malice leaving his body; he won't be active any time soon,"

"Also true, but-" Buliara started yet again, however Link once again interjected.

"And you are severely injured. I am the only one remotely capable of keeping the chief safe besides you. I know you believe that as well," Link said with a nervous smile. Buliara glared down at the little Hylian.

"Are you saying I don't trust my fellow Gerudo with guarding their own chief?" Buliara asked strongly.

"Would you cut my head off if I said that... you... don't?" Link said nervously. "I mean, you don't really trust anyone besides yourself with that responsibility. But... if I have the Master Sword with me, even if it is resting, I am naturally the safest person to be around. Along with my own skill in battle..."

Riju's eyes grew hopeful as she looked up at Buliara, who seemed to think rather deeply about what Link was saying. Buliara raised her claymore at the Champion, aiming it right at his chest.

"You better be glad I know you as well as I do," Buliara said menacingly. "Let me ask you one thing: Riju would only slow you down, why take her with you? If it's just to have fun, neither I nor the rest of the townsfolk will be very happy..."

Link's eyebrows furrowed a bit. He could see what Buliara was doing. Riju was still the chief of the town. She needed to have a proper reason for leaving...

"Well, the Divine Beast Vah Naboris did fire a super laser a few months ago. That's worth investigating and determining whether the beast is still on our side... and having the Thunder Helm would be useful." Link said, coming up with an explanation on the fly. Buliara stared down, her claymore still pointed before ultimately sighing and bringing the blade down.

"Once again, you better be glad I know you well," Buliara said threateningly. "Fine, I will allow Riju to once again travel with you. But I swear, Champion, if anything happens to our chief, you'll have to deal with me. No injury on my body will spare you from the demise I would bring down upon you."

Riju cheered silently behind Buliara as Link smiled awkwardly at the threat.

"I leave the chief in your care. I shall go rest. Please wake me once you have returned from your escapade, and please leave before sunrise. We can't let the rest of the town know you are a voe," Buliara said. She then turned to look down at the young Gerudo girl. "Stay safe, and don't be too reckless. Come back soon."

"Thank you Buliara!" Riju said excitedly. "Please, heal well."

Buliara nodded before entering the sandstone building. Riju watched as Buliara disappeared before turning to Link with an excited smile.

"I'll go get the Thunder Helm!" Riju said with an excited smile as she ran inside the palace. Link chuckled as he sat back on the steps, waiting for the Chief to return. She truly did act like a kid around him.

* * *

"Link? Are you ready?" Riju called out as she ran out one of the empty gate exits of Gerudo town. Link, who was staring out into the sunrise of the desert, chuckled as he turned back to see the small Gerudo girl running towards him. He stretched his shoulders, adjusting the returned dull Master Sword that once again sat on his back along with the Moonlight Scimitar before taking the Radiant Shield off his back, preparing it for sand surfing.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Link said, however he raised an eyebrow as he eyed the girl, taking note of the rather large knapsack that was slung over her shoulder. "Are you actually bringing the Thunder Helm with us?"

"I figured I would, just in case. Do you truly believe we won't need it?" Riju asked curiously. Link shook his head as he looked off at the beast in the distance.

"I don't think so. You've always wanted to board the Divine Beast, right?" Link asked with a smile. Riju nodded her head excitedly, almost dancing on her toes.

"Why, yes! It is where my valiant ancestor fought for Hyrule's freedom," she said. "I wish to stand where my ancestor once stood, protecting everyone with her power."

Link's smile grew wider as he listened to her answer.

"Urbosa was one heck of a warrior. She gave me a run for my money a few times when we would spar," Link said as he and Riju walked towards their sand seals. Riju's eyes glowed with interest as she heard those words.

"You and Lady Urbosa fought?" Riju asked curiously. Link laughed as they began to place their shields down into the shifting sand.

"Us Champions had to practice every now and then. Any chance I could I would ask Urbosa to spar with me. It's why I know the proper way to swing a scimitar," Link said, thinking back to his friendly clashes with Urbosa and the other Champions. It was no wonder he was able to use all those different kinds of weapons when he first awoke. He had trained with the other Champions so intensely that it was basically muscle memory. Still a bit lost in thought, Link looked over to see if Riju needed any assistance setting up her sand seal. Riju, finishing her sand seal setup long before the Hylian, raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Link, I thought you had memory loss. Have all your memories returned to you?" she questioned. Link, however, shook his head.

"Not all of them, but a lot of the important ones. They simply just appear over time without me realizing it," Link said, stepping onto his shield. Riju, also getting on her shield, hummed a bit at the sound of that. With the sand seal rein in hand, the two urged their sand seals forward, soon riding smoothly across the sand.

"So... have the important memories of the princess appeared in your mind yet?" Riju asked casually. Link looked over curiously at the young red-haired girl.

"And what makes you ask that?" Link wondered out loud. Riju giggled as the two glided along the sand.

"Come on, Link. I overheard the conversation you had with Buliara before the raid," Riju said teasingly. "You really are in love with her! I can see it! Tell me! Tell me! What cute memories do you have with her?"

"Are all Gerudo girls as interested in love as you are?" Link asked, frowning as he tried to hide his embarrassment. Why was a girl as young as her teasing him about his romantic life?

"Romance is a very big thing in Gerudo culture," Riju said, raising her chin. "You should know that. Many Gerudo vai leave the town just to find their lover. With me being chief however, I dunno when I'll be able to find a lover, especially when voe aren't allowed within Gerudo Town borders."

"Aren't you a bit too young to be thinking about a lover for yourself?" Link asked.

"Of course! That's why I wish to be nosy and learn about your love life instead!" Riju said with a happy smile. "I want to know if romance is just as beautiful in real life as it is in the books I've read!"

"You do have quite a few books in your room... You and these stories you like hearing. I swear, you and Kass would be best of friends if men were allowed in Gerudo Town," Link muttered as he stared off into the sandy desert. Link took a moment to take in the orange sky light glittering on the sandy dunes before looking back at Riju, who was eyeing him with a mischievous grin. Link tried to frown at the girl, however he couldn't help a similar grin from spreading across his face.

"Fine, you got me," Link said, focusing on the dunes. Riju cheered for a moment before urging her sand seal closer to Link's. "I can't promise you a story better than in your books, though. I haven't really been trying to be a lover. I wouldn't have guessed that Zelda actually had feelings for me."

"She told you?" Riju asked, slightly surprised. "That's very bold of her. Gerudo are pretty upfront, but in my books, other races are genuinely a bit more shy."

"Heavens no," Link said with a laugh. "Now that I have a bit more insight, Zelda has a very 'special' way of going about things. No—I learned from a song a Rito named Kass sang to me. She apparently fell in love with the knight protecting her a hundred years ago."

"Well that's cute! Sad of course, but still love story material!" Riju said excitedly. "Well then, shouldn't that have made it easy for you? You seem to have a surprising understanding of her."

"You say that like I'm usually clueless," Link said with a frown. Riju grinned.

"I wouldn't put it past you," she said teasingly. Again, why was someone as young as her teasing him? Link rolled his eyes as he continued.

"I'll have you know, I had picked up on her advancements. Kind of. Look, you would think after losing memories, going on a self-discovery quest and being away from each other for a hundred years... most would be pretty skeptical about boundaries. Who could keep their feelings for that long? I didn't want to get my hopes up. And what if I made a move and I ended up being wrong? Plus there was that whole ordeal with Mipha..."

"Wasn't that the Zora Champion from a hundred years ago?" Riju asked, thoroughly enjoying Link rant about his thought process without him realizing he was. "What does she have to do with your love story?"

"That is a story for another day," Link said. "Long story short... I just didn't think she would feel the same. Heck, I didn't know if love in the song meant romantic or platonic love..."

"You think about things too much," Riju said. "She's a vai. Love isn't a term used lightly by us, you know."

"She didn't write the song. Love could've been a word choice for flavor! Like salt on meat. It takes the juiciness and true flavor of meat, but it puts on a different, more exaggerated taste. Words can be like that too," Link said with a frown.

"Did you just compare a love song to meat?" Riju asked, now laughing out loud. Link chuckled along with her.

"Look, as a knight I have to think about these things. I would've been beheaded a hundred years ago had it been found out that we were interested in one another. Just being friendly in terms of the Knight's Code would have been considered mingling. She's a princess... or at least she was. She's special; she's one of a kind, amazing, smart, talented. She doesn't give up; she's stubborn, yet tries to understand others. She's... She's..."

"She's perfect for you?" Riju asked with a cheeky grin. Link couldn't help but grin when Riju said that.

"Yeah. She is," Link said. Riju smiled happily at him.

"Only took a talk from Buliara to realize that," Riju said. Link's grin contorted awkwardly at that.

"Trust me, I'd already realized that long ago," Link said quietly to himself. "It's more... I think it's time I stop living in the past."

"I'd have to say, with my extensive knowledge as chief of the Gerudo: that is a great idea," Riju said smugly, placing a hand to her chest with a fake, all-knowing smile.

"Oh, quiet you," Link said with a chuckle. "Tell me that when you stop cuddling with stuffed animals when you sleep."

"How did you know I cuddled them?!" Riju said, her defenses immediately rising. "Have you seen me sleep before?"

"No, but you just gave it away," Link teased with a smile. "Learn to realize when someone is teasing you back, then you can tease me."

Riju frowned as she sped up her sand seal to pass Link, however the moment she looked forward her eyes began to glow with excitement. Noticing her sudden change in mood, Link also looked forward as the smile grew.

"Speaking of animals, it looks like we've arrived."

* * *

With Riju on his back, along with his other rather heavy equipment, Link pulled himself up over the rocks. WIth a final gasp of air, Link rolled over onto his back as Riju jumped off, now resting on the cliff top where Vah Naboris now remained in its usual kneeling position.

"Are you all right?" Riju asked as she leaned over to look down at the exhausted knight.

"I'm fine, I'm... fine," Link said through his gasps, waving his hand in the air. "Just... Just give me a moment to catch my breath."

Riju shrugged as she looked up towards the magnificent beast in front of her. The sky was now its usual bright blue as the morning sun rays beamed down on the long neck of the yellowish camel-like machine. Riju couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the peacefully resting Vah Naboris.

"It truly is a magnificent wonder to take in," Riju said, gripping the belt of her satchel that was still slung around her shoulder.

"Yeah, when it's not trying to strike us with lightning," Link said, pulling himself up to his feet now that his stamina had returned. He walked over, adjusting his Gerudo Voe Headband, to stand next to Riju who was now staring at the shining beast himself. "Of all the Divine Beasts, I always thought Vah Naboris was the most elegant of them all."

"You believe so?" Riju asked curiously, looking up at Link. Link nodded.

"Something about Naboris... demands respect. All of them do, but Naboris I always felt was a bit different. While she demands respect, I also feel kindness from her," Link said, holding his hand out to the beast.

"You speak as though you've piloted a Divine Beast yourself," Riju said as they walked closer towards the long, kneeling legs of the beast. Link shrugged.

"I never had a Divine Beast, however unlocking the terminals when I was inside gave me some sort of control. Somehow, each beast has its own spirit. A will of its own. Even taken over, you can feel the spirit of the beast," Link said as they walked towards the side of Naboris. "It never wanted to hurt anyone. None of the Divine Beast did."

"Maybe that's why it took so long for the beast to become dangerous," Riju said in thought. "I always believed it was weird that Naboris never charged the town, though it did get dangerously close. Was Vah Naboris fighting for control?"

"Her along with Urbosa. They may have caused problems, but it was due to Calamity Ganon. The Divine Beast will fight to protect us, even if it must fight itself," Link said with a smile as he noticed the entrance of the beast. "Shoot. The entrance is closed."

Riju looked up to where Link was looking, and sure enough, the entrance to the Divine Beast was closed off.

"Is that a problem? Can we not just climb it like we did the cliffs?" Riju asked. Link shook his head.

"Not the beast. Something about its material makes it so I can't climb it. And I don't have the Sheikah Slate to teleport us in..." He said in thought. How were they supposed to get in without the Slate?

Riju and Link stood for a moment in silence, before Riju suddenly took a large breath.

"Goddess of the Desert, hear my plea! Please open the doors for us! We wish to bask in your elegance, learn the truth from inside. Will you grant us this request?" she called out loudly. Link raised an eyebrow, trying to hold in a laugh.

"Nice try kid, but the Divine Beast won't just open simply because it was-"

Link didn't get to finish. A rumbling began to shake the mountain top, the sound engulfing their hearing. Link and Riju watched as the Divine Beast shook, its rumble turning into the gentle, yet intimidating roar of the camel as its head tilted back slightly. The gears began to turn as the bridge-like door began to lower, revealing the entrance to the camel's interior. As soon as the door was completely opened, the camel's head lowered yet again as the rumbling roar began to fade away.

"...asked?" Link finished in confusion. Riju grinned as she turned back towards Link.

"Nice try, hero, but looks like I am more special than you would like to believe," she said, mocking the Hylian knight. Link, still dumbfounded, ran his fingers through his hair.

"That shouldn't have worked... we thought the Divine Beasts were turned off," Link thought out loud as he looked up at the camel's head. "Or that the Sheikah monks had control over them."

"Well, it seems as if Naboris is still active," Riju said. "Did the other Divine Beast do anything?"

"Zelda should be at Vah Rudania right now. We haven't visited Vah Medoh yet, but Vah Ruta hasn't done anything." Link said, completely lost in thought. However, after a moment's standing there in silence, he shook his head. "Standing here won't get us anywhere. Let's go inside."

Riju nodded as the two ventured into the Divine Beast. The two walked up the beast's ramps until they entered the main room of the Divine Beast. Light shone through the camel's open windows, throwing light on the still three revolving centerpieces of Vah Naboris. The power conductors lining the beast were still bright with energy, however little no other activity could be seen in the cylinder-like void of the beast.

"It's a lot more spacious than I remember..." Riju said, looking around in awe as she took in Vah Naboris's stomach interior. Link nodded, only half listening to the young Gerudo. Everything seemed the same: the quiet settling of the dust, the gears moving only when necessary, and the eerie absence of the beast's own vocals. Not only was the beast once again silent and stationary and, like Vah Ruta, the Malice that once haunted the place had not returned.

"It's so strange," Link thought out loud as he and Riju now walked up the ramps to the main terminal. "Power is running through the beast, there's no Malice, and apparently the thing is on. Are the monks not controlling it?"

"Can we test it somehow?" Riju asked. Link shook his head as he peered around the main terminal they now stood in front of.

"Not without the Sheikah Slate. And honestly, when we tried stuff in Vah Ruta, it didn't react anyway. No other way to-"

Link suddenly stopped as he bolted up, now looking at Riju. After a few moments of staring into the young girl's green eyes, Riju raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?" she asked curiously. A smile slowly grew on Link's lips.

"The Champions were able to control the Divine Beast without a Sheikah Slate," Link said, pointing a finger at Riju. "I dunno how they were connected, but they were somehow intertwined with the beast. You're a descendant of Urbosa. That may be why the beast responded to you!"

Riju's eyes grew wide as Link stated this as a smile appeared on her face as well.

"Do you believe I could control Vah Naboris?" Riju asked. Link shrugged.

"Only one way to find out. Ask it to do something, something simple," Link said enthusiastically. Riju thought for a moment, bringing a finger to her chin as she looked around before snapping her fingers.

"Divine Beast Vah Naboris!" she cried out as loud as she could. "Hear me now, and rise to your elegant feet!"

Riju raised her hands in the air as Link watched in excitement, bracing himself for the rumble of Vah Naboris' long legs to lift them high. The two blinked. Nothing had moved. Riju stood awkwardly with her hands in the air, looking around with a confused look before dropping her hands.

"Um, that didn't do anything," Riju said, a little bit of disappointment in her voice.

"Maybe something more simple?" Link asked, still a bit hopeful. Riju, thinking a bit harder and less excitedly, looked around.

"Vah Naboris, close the entrance to your grand body?" Riju said with a shrug. With a surprising rumble, which the two had not prepared themselves for, the gears began to turn as they heard the slam of the entrance to Vah Naboris close. After another short roar, Naboris quieted itself once again.

"Well, that did something," Link said, getting up from the ground he had fallen onto as he dusted himself off. Riju, following suit, began to look a bit hopeful yet again.

"Maybe since I'm only a descendant, it only half works?" Riju threw out, trying to come up with a solution. Link put his hands on his hips as he looked around.

"I dunno. I don't see the Sheikah half thinking about it like that," Link said. "If anything, we know the Sheikah monks are involved. Maybe you have basic controls, but the monks might be inhibiting the rest of the controls."

Link sighed as he continued to look around, walking away from the terminal. While it was pretty interesting to note that Riju could somewhat control Vah Naboris, that didn't give an explanation as to why the monks took control of the Divine Beasts in the first place. Once again, there were no clues as to where Link and Zelda were supposed to head to next.

"Well, Zelda will be mad at me if I don't do a bit more testing since I learned you can control it a bit," Link said, turning towards Riju. However Riju was no longer standing where she originally was. Link furrowed his eyebrows as he walked back to the main terminal.

"Riju? Buliara will kill me if something happens to you, so if you're hiding-" Link began to call out, however the moment he began to walk past the terminal, he noticed Riju on her knees in front of it. Link stared down in surprise before realizing what she was doing.

"Please keep watching over us, Lady Urbosa," Riju muttered, her eyes closed as she brought her clasped hands to her chest. Link smiled, watching as Riju prayed to her ancestor. However his eyes grew wide as he saw a few particles revolve around Riju.

Riju's eyes shot open as she looked on her shoulder to see a hand, for a brief moment, resting on her shoulder before disappearing again. Riju shot up, looking around to see if it was a dream, however Urbosa was nowhere to be seen.

"I guess it was all in my... head..." Riju began to say with a smile before looking at Link, who was also staring at where Urbosa apparently had stood for only a moment's time, his eyes still wide. "Link? Was I not dreaming? Was that-?"

"Yeah," Link said, his eyes still wide. Riju's eyes grew wide as her smile grew a bit.

"Then Urbosa is still watching over us!" Riju said with glee, however Link only frowned. "Link? What's wrong?"

"Urbosa... I had already spoken to her spirit," Link said, now turning to look towards the front of the Divine Beast.

"You spoke to her?" Riju asked, confused. Link nodded without turning back to her.

"She and the other spirits of the Champions are the ones that fired at Hyrule Castle when I fought Calamity Ganon," Link explained. "Zelda and I assumed they had passed on. But if their spirits are still here..."

"Then maybe their duty isn't fulfilled yet," Riju said, almost sounding worried. With another grumble, Divine Beast Vah Naboris began to rumble as its roar gave off once again into the morning light.

"Urbosa!" Link called out into the empty beast. "Tell me! Where are Zelda and I supposed to go next? What is there left for us to do!?"

Silence. Link's brow twitched. There had to be something, anything Urbosa could tell him.

"Is there anything for us to do? Impa said the monks have something for us? Can you at least tell me if this is true?" Link called out again, desperate for answers. For a few moments, silence continued, however the moment Link lost any hope of receiving any type of answer, the rumbling began as Vah Naboris's roar echoed once again.

"Doesn't look like you'll get a proper answer, Link," Riju said, though her face was in awe as surprise from Urbosa's presence was still fresh in her mind. However, Link's face had become as serious as it could.

"No," Link said, turning as he walked down the ramps with a brisk pace. "She did give me an answer. A proper one. There is more for us to do. Before it was just a thought, but that outright confirms it. I have to leave."

Link stopped as he looked back at Riju, who stood still in surprise at his sudden seriousness.

"Thank you Riju. I wouldn't have gotten the answers I needed without you,"

"Y-You got answers from this escapade?" Riju asked, blinking a few times before jogging a bit to catch up to him, much more confused than she had ever been. Link nodded as they continued down the ramps of the beast interior. "It was nice to know Urbosa is still with us, however I don't understand how you got answers from this. If anything I have several questions..."

"Trust me Riju, I may have gotten more questions as well, but I also got one of the most important questions answered," Link said with a serious look, yet a confident grin. "Zelda and I most certainly have a challenge ahead of us. But this time, we'll have each other. I need to head to Rito Village. Now."

"Well, you should leave immediately then!" Riju said, getting caught up in Link's aura as they exited the Divine Beast and headed towards the cliffside. "But wait, I have to get home..."

"We'll get you home in record time," Link said, kneeling on the ground. "Hop on."

Riju turned back towards the Divine Beast.

"Goodbye, Lady Urbosa. I wish you the best, and I hope one day you'll be able to rest well," Riju said, bowing before jumping onto Link's back.

With Riju on his back, Link slid down the mountain before to the sand dunes below them..

"Okay, what now?" Riju asked, hopping off. Link gave her a grin.

"We sand seal race back to Gerudo Town, and I don't plan on losing," Link said. Riju's face immediately exuded confidence.

"Oh you're on, hero."

.............................................................................................................................................................

More hints about what's to come! I hope you guys are keeping track of everything!
Also I broke a few fingers so chapters a a bit slow for obvious typing reasons! I'm healing though so yay!
Kenny Boi