Chapter 1

I knew something was off when I awoke, only because my spouse-to-be was not floating next to me in the water bed. Blinking, I dove under the water, looking for a glimpse of red. Seeing none, I surfaced, and swam to the ladder to get out.

As soon as I had dried off and dressed, I brushed my blue hair and put it in a ponytail. Being half-Hylian and half-Zora had some perks, even if my Zora half only was shown by my gills and my fin-like ears that were tipped with red along the edges.

Sighing, I quickly put on my Zora armor and my fin-shoes-these helped me swim since I didn't have webbed toes-and opened the door to meet, like always, the downpour of rain. In the distance, I heard Vah Ruta's sad wail. It sounded as if it was in pain, and oh did I want to go and sooth it.

"Lady Mitari!" called a red Zora, waving her arm in greeting.

"Hello, Tona!" I called back. "Have you seen Sidon?"

Tona nodded. "He went down to the gates," she said, motioning towards the road that led out of Zora's Domain. "He was going to look for a Hylian."

Thanking her, I went back to my room, grabbing my adventure pack. King Dorephan had assigned me to go check out the Great Plateau, where Impa-a Sheikah I had recently visited-wanted me to find the Shrine of Resurrection to check if there was a sleeping Hylian there-and if he was alive.

After collecting my gear, I walked down to the Zora Stables-a recent expansion to the town as I had brought a special, and reasonably size, for me at least, horse who was more than he seemed. I called him Gan, since he would not allow me to call him anything else. He was known as the Giant Horse to Hylians, and it had been a pain to get him-but he was the only horse big enough to hold me without injuring the poor horse.

Walking in, I pulled out an apple and opened the large stall the Gan was standing in. He turned to me, as I offered the apple, before slowly taking said apple and eating it.

Are we leaving this place? Gan asked, though through thought. He couldn't actually speak-but somehow, I had connected my spirit to his and we were able to communicate.

Don't worry, Gan, I sighed. We're going to go soon. Let me get your gear on.

I then spent a good thirty minutes either chasing Gan about or actually getting him still enough to get his gear on. As a self-proclaimed "Gerudo Steed," after something he remembered in his past life, he disliked the rather plain gear than was made for him when I had registered him at a stable.

Speaking of his past life, I should elaborate. But before I do, let me tell you about the evil cloud-a joke that Gan and I shared-known as Calamity Ganon. This cloud should not actually have the name Ganon, as it was not, in fact, the Gerudo King Ganondorf from the far past. No, it was another creature, and through Gan's words, he was a "watered down Demon King Demise," who, as said by Gan, was Ganondorf's first life.

You see, Ganondorf, a woman named Princess Zelda, and a courageous swordsman named Link are in this immortal struggle to either take over Hyrule or to save it. They keep getting reincarnated-although the Link and Zelda of this time were born a hundred years ago and were most likely dead-to fight each other. Ganondorf usually loses.

Well, until now, where Ganondorf can do little in the fight for Hyrule. Why?

Because he's literally Gan, the big horse with a black coat and a fiery orange mane.

Now that that has been explained, I finally managed to get Gan's gear on. And gave him another apple, as an apology. Once we found a way to get him into the Gerudo Desert, we were sure to get him better fitting, and more pleasing to Gan, gear. Or maybe I would have to have him wear his gear when he was resting in stables.

Hopping onto Gan's back-and sighing as he seemed to want to buck me off a little bit-I tapped him to go forwards. Once he was at the appropriate speed for the town, I let him follow the path as I waved at the Zoras around me and munched on a small snack. Once we got to the outskirts-and across the bridge-I tapped him to go at full speed-so that we would have to worry less about the monsters ahead of us.

The journey down the mountain was long and tedious-although I managed to gather some Shock Arrows, which were needed for whichever Hylian Sidon would managed to get to stop Vah Ruta from drowning Zora's Domain and the rest of Hyrule with flood water-and I was happy when I finally saw the gate come into sight, with none other than Prince Sidon, my spouse-to-be, on top of it. He looked a little worried-something he usually tried to hide when around his people-yet courageous.

"Sidon!" I called.

This startled said Zora as he had not expected it. He literally, accidently, fell off the top of the gate, landing next to me and making Gan rear a little. Gan was unhappy, I knew.

"Urch," Sidon groaned, before opening a golden eye to look at me. "Mitari? How'd you get here without me noticing?! I should have heard your horse a few minutes ago!"

I had wanted to surprise Sidon, so I had slowed Gan when we got close to the gate. It worked, it seemed.

Hopping off Gan's back, I reached my hand out to help Sidon get up. Once he was, I had to get on my tiptoes to kiss him on his cheek. Even if I was taller than a Hylian, Sidon still dwarfed me and had to bend down to allow me to kiss him.

"So you're going on the trip?" Sidon asked, his voice betraying a hint of worry.

Laughing, I hugged him. "Don't worry, I'll be fine!" I reassured him. "I doubt there are any Guardians up there, and I have plenty of food for the trip, and elixirs too! You won't have to worry!"

Sidon nodded, even if he didn't look convinced. "Just make sure you come back with no wounds!" he said, striking his pose. "I believe in you!"

Laughing, I hugged-and kissed his cheek-again, then got back on Gan's back. "Don't worry, Sidon!" I laughed. "I'll be back!"