"I wish to talk with him more and to see what lies beneath those calm waters, to hear him speak freely and openly... And perhaps I, too, will be able to bare my soul to him and share the demons that have plagued me all these years." -Zelda's Diary

It was over. After years of preparation and 100 years of waiting, it was finally over. Calamity Gannon had been defeated. The darkness that had so long been hanging in the air of Hyrule was gone. Vanquished.

Zelda breathed deep as a strong breeze swept across the valley. New beginnings. She could hardly believe this was the reality, her reality, the reality of Hyrule. Though she never stopped believing Link would overcome Gannon's evil, 100 years was an agonizingly long time to wait. But he had done it. He had succeeded. Her kingdom was finally free of Gannon's evil.

"I suppose it isn't really my kingdom anymore now is it?" she asked herself softly.

"Hm?" A soft, deep voice. Link.

"I didn't realize I had spoken out loud!" Zelda laughed. She gripped his waist a little bit tighter, thankful he couldn't see her face. The horse beneath them grunted, seeming to urge her on. "It's just that...our beautiful Hyrule. So much of it lay in ruins. So many lives lost...what is there left to rule?"

Silence and the click-clack of their mount's hooves on old cobblestone was the only reply. "Just look at this place. So much destruction..." The ranch they were passing through was nothing more than ruins now. It served as somber proof of her statement. Mere shells of building foundations and scattered fence posts are all that remained. "It used to be so bright and cheerful. It's where father got my mount. My beautiful steed..." Zelda stopped, choked up with emotion. So many losses. Her father, the champions...

"It's a silly thing, to be so emotional about a horse. But I like to think he survived. I know it has been 100 years but I hope he went on to live a happy life. I can't bear the thought of another thing I loved having been taken by Gannon, by these monsters..."

Link nodded. Zelda smiled. "You understand. The bond between animal and man is a sacred one. You taught me that. You taught me so much about how to treat these beautiful beasts." She patted their horses side. "So powerful. So helpful."

They rode on a while in silence. Zelda's heart throbbed with the pain of all that had been lost. Mourning wasn't something that came easily for her; empathy was something that she lacked. Her father had always argued that they, as rulers, had no time for empathy, not during times of war. Back then, Gannon's uprising was imminent and all of Hyrule was frantically preparing for his coming. Growing up in times like those was relentless. There was no room for weakness.

Zelda studied the back of Link's head. But was father wrong? Is empathy truly a weakness? From her experience, Link, the most skilled and hardened warrior she knew, was full of empathy. He showed it in the way he took care of animals, in the way he watched over her as her appointed knight. She wondered how someone who could connect so well with the emotions of others could bear to kill. Perhaps one day I'll ask him, she thought.

Soon they came upon a stable, humble but full of life. Zelda gasped. Life. People. This was her first true glimpse of persevering life since Calamity Gannon took over. She was surprised by the emotion it evoked.

Link hopped down and offered her his hand. He paused when he saw the expression on her face. "Princess?"

Zelda's eyes met his. She shook her head, chasing away the overpowering emotion. "Oh yes. Yes I'm sorry..." She took his hand and slid off the horse. She landed on her feet with a thud, swaying a bit. Link steadied her, a look of concern on his face.

"It's been a long time since I've ridden," she said, a bit embarrassed. "I suppose it's been 100 years! I'll be sore tomorrow."

Link chuckled but the concern was still there. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she said breathlessly. "It's just...it's been so long. So long since I've been around...life! People! It is a bit overwhelming. But my heart is full of joy!"

Link smiled.

"I'll be fine, truly," she reassured.

Satisfied, Link turned and headed toward the stable owner. Zelda watched him walk away. He is something, she thought. Despite everything he's been through, the battle he just fought, he is still taking care of me. He's still handling business. He's so strong, emotionally and physically. He's so handsome...

Zelda blushed. Handsome? She quickly looked away. So what if he was handsome? Princesses don't have time to vie for men's attention, especially those who work for her. It was completely inappropriate...

At that moment Link returned, a small smile on his face.

"Why have we stopped here Link? I thought we were trying to reach Kakariko village before nightfall."

Link rubbed the back of his neck. He seemed nervous. His eyes were trained behind her. Curious, she turned around to see what he was looking at.

She couldn't breathe.

A stablehand was leading a pure white stallion from the stables. She had only ever seen such a gorgeous horse once before...

"Oh Link..." she sighed, her heart aching. This beauty reminded her so much of her old faithful mount. Suddenly, her eye caught the glimmer of the royal family crest. The purple and gold, the Triforce, it was unmistakable. "Link...?"

The man led the stallion straight to Zelda, bowing deeply. "Princess Zelda. It is my honor to have you as a guest at the Wetland Stable. It is a greater honor still to offer you this mount. We believe it to be a direct bloodline of your steed 100 years ago. Never before, or since, have there been any horses born as white as snow to any lineage, save for your horse's."

Zelda couldn't believe her ears. "This...so this stallion..."

"We believe him to be a direct descendent of your very mount from 100 years ago, yes."

"But I don't understand. How?"

The stable hand motioned to Link. "He found him. People had been murmuring rumors of a steed white as snow that was wandering in the west. Rumors said it was a direct bloodline of the Royal Family's mount. Nobody had been able to capture and tame him. Not until Link came around. He tamed him and kept him here, safely awaiting your return."

Zelda turned to Link, flabbergasted. "Link. This is the greatest gift I could have received."

Link smiled, patting the stallion on the neck. "Hyrule does still need a ruler Your Highness. And every ruler needs a good steed."