The next morning, Starlight, Link, Yunobo and chief Riju were greeting the big day with a meal. Today, they would reclaim Divine Beast Naboris, and Riju's mother.
"Today's the day…" Link said carefully.
"It shouldn't be any more difficult than Ruta and Rudania." Starlight brought up. "We can get done even quicker thanks to my magic and Riju's helmet."
"It should be easier...but what if Ganon is doing something to make it more difficult?" Link inquired. "Cause the past two have been simple enough and I still don't know if he's just a mindless monster or smart cause he left those guardians behind."
"I think it's because Princess Zelda is keeping him at bay mostly. Aside from the occasional blood moon, seems Gannon only has power in the Divine beasts and the Guardian Robots he infected before. The Moblins and such are an annoyance but manageable." Riju stated.
"It would make sense." Starlight nodded.
“That’s...fair.” Link conceded. “So he’s mostly stuck in the Divine Beasts and whatever is in them...so it should just be smooth sailing mostly.”
"Well… there are other things we can do. There's probably a lot of people around Hyrule that need help in some way, shape and form." Starlight added.
“True…” Link said with some thought. “I...do remember there were some message boards back in town and some of the Stables we were at.”
Starlight nodded, smiling. She knew delaying the final battle was selfish, but she wanted just a little more time with her friends, before the uncertainty of after the monstrous Gannon is defeated.
“Plus, depending on how things go, we might find more allies to help us fight Gannon.” Link shrugged. “Or maybe weirdly find Gannon Worshipers...which seems like a weird case of Deja Vu for me when I don’t remember much…” Link shook his head, confused as to why he thought Gannon Cultists sounded so familiar when he could have sworn there wasn’t any.
"Huh. Speaking of help, would you care to join us Riju?" Starlight asked.
"In the fight? What could I do?" Riju asked.
With a flash of her horn, Starlight bestowed Riju with Abaddon Plasma. A fast, rapid combo keyblade. "With this a whole lot and then some."
“Trust me, it works amazingly.” Link said to Riju simply.
"Even I can fight with a Keyblade." Yunobo added.
“Plus, Keyblades are magic so...it can help with your Lightning Abilities and your Mask.” Link mentioned.
"You had me at magic." Riju said as she grabbed and lifted the weapon.
"Shall we do some training before heading off? Best we teach her some basics before the big fight." Starlight suggested with a grin.
“Yes we shall.” Link nodded, getting up and readying to teach her some very important thing’s when it comes to using a sword.
"I know how to use a sword, but given this one is magic I will take the lessons anyway. Plus it will lete see how fast and flexible Link is as a Vai for myself~" Riju said, earning a blush from the still genderbent hylian and a laugh from the others.
"Speaking of, should I… change your guard back yet or are they good?" Starlight asked.
"I imagine they are quite happy with their new gender. Plus, thanks to that there has been quite a number of Vai asking for the same treatment, and if you are willing, this sudden shift in the population's gender will force my hand to remove that silly rule about no males allowed in the city."
"Fair enough." Link nodded. “As long as they’re all happy about it.”
As Link gave Riju lessons, Starlight watched them battle from afar, sighing happily as she looked out at her friends.
"You really don't want it to end, do you?" She turned, seeing Cript there. "Don't worry, they can't see or hear me."
"Am I that transparent?" Starlight sighed out.
"I can't blame you. After what you and the others all went through."
"Yeah…" Starlight sighed. "This is...really nice and simple…"
"Wonder how you'll hang out after Gannon is beat?"
"I'd rather...not think of that…" Starlight said bitterly.
"What if you didn't have to leave. Or rather, what if I could make it last just a bit longer for you all?"
"You can?" Starlight gasped, wanting to know if there was a way to keep being with her new friends longer.
"There is a… project, I've been working on. Simulations are promising but I need to run an IRL beta test. If this is done properly, we can extend your time with them as well as grow them in power. We'll need all the help we can when the final battle arrives…"
“Yeah...we’re really going to need it.” Starlight nodded in agreement.
"The best part is, all you all have to do is beat Ganon, free Zelda and I can handle the rest from there."
“Fair enough. Beat the big bad, save Link’s girlfriend, it should be simple.”
"And once that's done I can see how well this test will run. It won't be too challenging, after all this is more of a beta run anyway. So, mind if I ask? What makes you so much happier here than back home?"
“Well...this is simpler if that...makes sense.” She said softly. “I’m with friends...I’m doing something good...I don’t have the fate of the universe on my mind…”
"Fair. Funny enough this would be less stressful. You can have a happy life here, this world is old, but peaceful and still has so many more years to live and explore. Hmm… actually, that sounds like a good idea." Cript said as he turned to Starlight. "How would you like to do something similar to what you're doing here? Helping the heroes?"
“That would be good.” Starlight nodded. “What do you have in mind?”
Cript began explaining the idea to Starlight. The overall goal and her role to be played. It was a simple, but Important one. She smiled, feeling a purpose and goal fill her.
"And remember, when the war is over, you'll still have a job to do. Not Heart, nore King or Eclipsa know what's to come after. You are one of the few I have told." Cript explained with a smile.
“Wow…” Starlight blinked. “You saying even those three don’t know...this is probably really big and important.”
"In the long run, yes. It will be. When this war is over we will all have a future and a part to play. Being able to both see the future and calculate all possible outcomes, but at least I can make some good come out of it."
“Cool.” She nodded. “This is going to be amazing...but...what’ll everyone else think about this?” Starlight asked carefully. “They’re still my family…”
"I imagine King might argue against it, but see the value in the end. Eclipsa will probably accept it, and Heart will more than likely accept it. In the end, we will still have a job to do, but it will be simpler, easier than now."
“King would try and argue…” Starlight chuckled and shook her head. “Probably think we’re just copying the Matrix or something.”
Cript shrugged. "He won't like it but in the end he can't deny it will help a lot. So, ready to get to work then Starlight?"
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Starlight nodded.
With a nod, Cript and Starlight shook hand and hoof. Cript then vanished as Starlight looked at her Assistant mark just above her hoof. Within the center space was now the symbol of her new job. An infinity loop.
“My new life huh?” Starlight muttered. “This is gonna be...honestly good.”
Naboris marched along the sands of the Gurato desert, it's mechanical body tirelessly marching as it's inner workings generated electricity that sent raw, unfiltered electricity at anything metal or organic within it's range.
"I always forget how tall these things are." Starlight noted as she looked up at the Mega Mecha Camel.
“I know we’re in a Desert but...why a Camel?” Link asked curiously.
"Ask the ancients." Riju said with a shrug. "The field my helmet will generate is limited. It's normally meant for just a single person so Link will have to stay close while we sand surf around the Divine Beast to disable the protective systems."
“That’s fair.” Starlight nodded. “And I’ll be able to keep cover using my magic to redirect any lightning coming my way.”
And so, the group got to work, Riju and the still genderbent Link road on sand seals and Shields to surf along the sandy grounds. The helmet Riju wore began working instantly, deflecting the electricity while Starlight's own magic did the same. In no time at all between the two the defences went down, and soon the group made it into Naboris proper.
"Ugh… why did these ancients make the insides of all these things gigantic puzzles…" Starlight groaned as she saw the bizarre and mechanical insides of Naboris.
"I mean, it's a good deterrent I suppose but it is kinda ridiculous." Yunobo added.
"Were the other two like this?" Riju asked as she looked around.
“Yes…” Link groaned. “Well...let’s get on with this…”
The group quickly made their way into Naboris, activating puzzles and terminals to gain more and more control over the divine beast. After a while, the group made their way to the final terminal where, in a rush of dark energy and vile slime, emerged the floating figure of Thunderblight Ganon, welding sword and shield that shot out lightning all around.
"So, this is the beast that killed my mother…" Riju said as she readied her Keyblade.
"And we're going to kill it." Link said. "And save your mother's soul."
The group acted fast. Yunobo used their Shield ability to deflect the extremely fast attacks of the blight monster. Riju's helm kept her protected from it's lighting attacks while Starlight used her magic to lift the metal bars it tried to use to rapidly chain rush electricity at them back at it. She found it odd it was not so immune to electricity as it should have been.
Between the four the Blight was defeated, and soon the spirit of Riju's mother, Urbosa, appeared.
Starlight immediately cast her magic, reviving the long dead Queen and Riju for the first time in years, embraced her mother in a warm hug.
"You have done so well, young one." Urbosa said as she affectionately pat her daughter's head. Once the Blight Ganon was defeated, and Naboris returned to normal, aiming it's cannon towards Hyrule castle like the other two Divine Beasts, they returned to the Gerudo Town, where Urbosa was recrowned, the law banning males was lifted, twenty eight Vai were then changed to males, and Link was returned to manhood.
Riju made a choice. She wanted to grow stronger, and would do so traveling with Link, Starlight and Yubono. "I will visit often mother." Riju said, holding her mother's hand. "Starlight taught me how to use DTL's, or portals, so it will not be long before I see you again."
"And we'll make sure she's kept safe." Link said, super glad to have his male bits back but thinking more about others at the moment.
Urbosa nodded. "I trust you Link, though, it does sadden me to know how little you remember from before. I knew at the time Calamity Ganon hit you the hardest, but I did not believe it would cause you to forget so much."
“It’s...slow going with my memories…” Link sighed out. “Although I’m surprised I wouldn’t remember you or...how you kept trying to have Zelda be more honest with her feelings.” Link said, rubbing his temple carefully as a memory flashed in his mind, a brief moment where he was hiding in the shadow’s dressed up as a Gerudo Female and heard the two talking, something about ‘being honest with your feelings’ and ‘talk to Link’ coming to mind but it was spotty at best.
"Hm, well that's good at least. Well, be safe Link, Riju, Yubono, and Starlight. I owe you a debt I can never repay."
Blushing, Starlight waved it off. "Don't worry about it, just live and spend time with Riju."
"I shall." Urbosa nodded. "When she returns to visit."
“We’ll make sure she visits regularly.” Link nodded.
With that, the group headed off, walking along the sands and back towards the central area of Hyrule.
"So, this just leaves Medoh in the mountains." Yubono stated.
"The hike there will not be pleasant." Riju stated.
“It could be worse.” Link said honestly. “But...we’re going from a scorching hot desert to probably a really cold mountain...boo.”