A dazzling white colt crosses the horizon: valleys of raw red rock dazzled with sunlight. For almost three days, he has galloped across plains, panted up plateaus, and all for the sake of his master. But still, love drives him on.

His master is a young Hyrulean man named Laurel. Laurel has golden blonde hair, a soft face and a muscular torso, plated with the finest golden armour. This armour is a remnant of his valiant past as a Commanding Knight of the Royal Hylian Forces. However, since the tragic events which had unfolded almost two years ago, he has lost all sense of identity. Now, he seeks to mend himself.

"Aurarius! Halt!" he calls to the horse. Aurarius immediately obeys and slows to a stop. Ahead of them, steam rises from a circle of rocks.

A hot spring! Aurarius neighs excitedly, and trots closer towards the bubbling oasis.

Laurel dismounts and removes his boots. He dunks one foot into the water, and the throbbing blisters and bruises are suddenly relieved.

"Come on in!" he beckons his steed.

Aurarius carelessly shakes the luggage on his back and splashes his worn-out hooves into the water. Laurel sheds the rest of his clothes and immerses himself in the warmth of the spring.

Suddenly, there is the approaching sound of clopping hooves. Laurel and his horse exchange anxious glances. Laurel hides behind one of the red rocks and submerges himself in the spring up to his chin. Soon, two horses come into view: one is brick red while the other is plain grey.

"Ooh, look Antonio!" cries the grey rider. "A hot spring! I haven't been in one of them for a while!"

"Well you'll just have to wait a little while longer, Newton." Antonio replies. They continue to trot until the red horse is pulled sharply backwards. Antonio points his finger to the spring and calls out. "Is that...a colt?"

The grey horse hesitates to see what the fuss was about. "Yes, Antonio...it appears to be abandoned..."

Unexpectedly, Antonio steps down from his horse and sprints towards it eagerly. Laurel edges further backwards, so as not to be seen. Antonio appears to be of a similar height to him, wearing a glittering red waistcoat which sparkles in the twilight. His glossy brown hair is tied back into a ponytail, and he wears a smug grin as he caresses Aurarius's mane.

"This would make the perfect show horse for the tournament, Newton." Antonio declares. "I must have it."

"I do not advise you to steal other people's horses, Antonio." his companion replies. "What would your parents think?"

"I don't care what my parents would think!" he snaps. "Besides, my parents would let me have anything I wanted."

"But this horse must belong to somebody." Newton sighs. "I mean, look at how clean its coat is."

"Well, there's nobody here to claim it, so finders-keepers." Antonio pulls on the reigns, but Aurarius cries out. Antonio continues to tug until a hoof kicks him violently in the shin. Laurel restrains his laughter as he topples backwards into the water.

Newton jumps down from his horse and rushed over to see to his friend. "Antonio, are you alright?!"

"Get off me, you buffoon, I'm fine!" Antonio retorts, shoving Newton aside. "This horse is out of control! I do not want a horse that does not obey its master!"

He dusts the dirt off his ruby waistcoat before mounting to his own horse. Newton follows him without command, and the pair trot away into the distance. Laurel gradually wades out of the hot spring and puts his clothes back on.

"I wonder just where those idiots are headed?" he asks Aurarius.

I heard them mention a 'tournament'. That could be fun, right?

"What exactly are you implying, Aurarius?" Laurel eyes him knowingly.

A tournament means prizes...some Rupees perhaps?

"You know as well as anybody that I'm in desperate need of cash." Laurel laughs.

Whatever it is, we could easily win! Aurarius brays confidently. And I'd love to show up and give that scoundrel another kick...

"Now, now, Aurarius!" Laurel warns him. "If you really want to enter this tournament, then you need to discipline that temper of yours!"

Aurarius grunts as his master reattaches the backpack to his saddle. Laurel mounts his steed again and they follow the hoof prints left in the red sand.