RIJU IS HOMOSEXUAL?!

I don't try to hide it.

Riju saw the whole fight, my birthmarks, my spells, my technology, everything.

I jump down from the spike I was perched on and start walking towards the princess, trying to explain myself,

"Riju, I…"

The words I'm about to say dry in my throat when I see her jump back in response to my approach, grabbing her swords from the ground.

She steels herself, griping her swords even harder, and in a hard voice says,

"You are the Demon Prince."

"Riju it's still me-"

"And you are the sixth sage? Everything was a lie. You tricked me."

Now bits of yellow electricity are dancing around her figure, and the sky is darkening at a visible rate.

I try to explain the situation to Riju, but she cuts me off once more, "Isha told me about you. You are the reason for Urbosa's solitude."

"At least let me explain?"

But Riju doesn't listen as she runs at me, lightning flickering across her figure as she streaks across the battlefield, and we begin clashing swords.

She is skilled, her duals scimitars are fast and deadly, and it's clear that she has been training from a young age.

But I'm simply better.

I'm easily able to keep her at bay while I try to explain.

The princess doesn't listen, however, and in a final attempt to hurt me, she raises her sword to the air and whips it down.

A bolt of lightning streaks from the sky, aiming to obliterate where I'm standing. But Riju isn't the only one who can control electricity.

I raise my sword above my head, and Samantha greedily sucks up the lightning bolt, negating the attack.

Drenched in sweat and drained of mana, Riju falls to her knees.

Despite her attacking me, I don't want to hurt her. I unload my belt, letting my guns and sabers fall to the ground, and remove the clasp on my cloak.

My hair has grown long and messy again, and my shirt is covered in holes. I am sure that I don't look very good, but Riju doesn't move as I slowly walk up to her. She just hangs her head and stares at the cracked ground.

Little drips of blood fall from a cut on her face, forming a puddle on the dusty ground. I try to talk to her, but she stays silent.

I sit down, crossing my legs over each other, and in a desperate attempt to get her to talk to me, I lean forward, pressing a shaky, desperate kiss to her lips.

Hey, IT'S FINE. I checked the family tree, Ok?

This seems to shock Riju out of her anger, and I can see the wheels turning in her head.

With narrowed eyes, she says,

"First of all, you are a terrible kisser. Second of all, you had better explain all of this. I want to hear everything."

I wipe her blood off my lips and nod, and we walk over to the side of the bridge, dangling our feet over the edge while I begin the long story.

Of course, I leave out my past life but describe pretty much everything since I got reincarnated into Hyrule.

Waking up as the child of Urbosa, being exiled, fighting bokoblins in the Oasis, meeting Uncle Rhoam at the sealed canyon, and starting Sinclair trading company. I do keep most of the important details hidden, but the general ideas are all there.

Of course, Riju is shocked,

"I would not have believed anything you just said if not for the fact that it saw it firsthand."

"I mean, do you know that the entire Gerudo royal council would do anything to control BOTH your alter egos? The technology that your company is pumping out is miraculous, and everyone in Hyrule is searching for Zorro."

"Not to mention there would be a manhunt if anyone found out the Demon prince is still alive."

I also receive and share some valuable information on a certain Jewelry merchant by the name of Isha. Yeah, the same one who sent a small platoon to kill me has also been destroying my reputation among the Gerudo council, calling me the Demon Prince.

Manipulation from Isha and her faction, in addition to the feelings of stress and betrayal she felt, is the reason why Riju was so hostile to me.

Once things are cleared up, Riju brings up the subject of Urbosa while treating my wounds.

"She hasn't been the same since she exiled you. Urbosa doesn't go out much and isn't as talkative or cheerful as she once was."

I wince a bit as Riju applies a paste from a spiky-looking plant to my wounds.

"It's nice that she's sad and all, but she basically killed me, and honestly, I have a grudge against her, mainly Isha and her faction, but also the whole Gerudo royal family."

"I understand your point."

The princess wraps my arms and legs in fern leaves, and the pain dulls considerably before she looks up.

"Arjon, I'm so sorry I attacked you. You basically saved me from dying in that prison and had every right to kill me just then."

"What could I do to make it up to you? Please. I'll do anything."

After some thought, I reply,

"Eternal servitude."

"..... wut."

"Well, not eternal. We can start with a few years!"

"Excuse me?"

"You said you'd do anything."

"I didn't expect you to actually- fine, servitude it is then."

"Great!"

With a new eternal servant gained, we start the journey back to Kara Kara Brazar, but after a few minutes of walking, I notice that Riju has a nasty limp.

I offer to carry her, and she begrudgingly accepts, hopping onto my shoulders piggyback style, and after an hour of hiking in the blazing sun, we are back to our old banter.

We follow a narrow game trail down the mountains and into the desert. When we get thirsty, Riju shows me a special technique on how to extract water from cacti, and when we get hungry, I use my skills from my years at the Oasis combined with fire magic to get us roasted meat.

As we are about to reach the top of the final hill before the desert, a steady, thudding noise grows louder and louder.

Riju and I draw our weapons, prepared to fight. The thudding becomes louder until it reaches the top of the hill.

A large, white beast appears at the top of the hill. It has sharp brown eyes, a mouth full of deadly-looking teeth as it licks its lips, and black claws dig into the stone it is standing on.

It's Floofy!

The goodest good boy spots me and bounds forward in excitement. Riju still thinks Floofy is some monster, so I push her swords down, telling her to relax.

"Chill, he's my dog."