Vesta's POV
Vesta was walking around Lake Hylia, just minding her own business when something whizzed by her head. She whirled around and drew her swords. She saw something move around in the water.
"Show yourself!" The head of a Zora popped out of the water. "What was that for!?" Vesta demanded.
"You're on my territory, and you're ruining the scenery, " the Zora said.
"I'm minding my own business and doing a favor for Lady Nabooru," Vesta responded. She really didn't expect to run into anybody at the lake.
"She is the only one of your race that I even remotely respect. The rest of you are Ganondorf worshipers," the Zora replied.
"I resent that. I hate Ganondorf with every fiber of my being," Vesta said.
"If you didn't hear, he's dead," the Zora notified.
"I don't care, dead or not, I hate him," Vesta replied. She really did hate Ganondorf, she was glad that he was dead.
"You know, you look quite a bit like Ganondorf, you must be his little girl," the Zora taunted.
He crossed an invisible line. "Oh, no you didn't."
"You have his nose. Even in his human form it looked like a pigs." And then he started making pig noises.
"You better get up here so I can kill you!" Vesta exclaimed. She was shaking with rage. She really hated this Zora, and she wanted to kill him.
"Um...no. You would have the advantage up there, and I would have the advantage down here, and we're on my turf, so I'll set the rules," said the Zora.
"So much for being a gentleman," Vesta responded.
"I thought Gerudos didn't like being all prissy," the Zora replied.
"That's it." Vesta dived into the water, and when she surfaced she looked around, but she didn't see the Zora boy anywhere. Suddenly she felt someone tap her shoulder; she turned around, but saw nothing. "Hey! Over here!" Vesta turned to see the Zora boy holding her necklace in his hand. Her mother's necklace. That's it, she said to herself. The Zora swam out to the middle of the lake and stuck the necklace in his mouth.
"Come and get it!" he hollered.
Vesta started to swim over to him and just before she reached him, he dove under. I probably shouldn't do this, but I have to get my necklace back. She took a deep breath and dove under the water. She searched for the Zora boy, but couldn't find him. Vesta hadn't realized how deep she went until she started losing her ability to hold her breath; she started sucking water and she started to panic. She tried to find her way up, but she couldn't do it. Suddenly she felt a pair of strong arms grab her. The next thing she knew, she was on land and coughing up water.
"Stay up on the land where you belong." Vesta turned and saw the Zora boy. "Geez, you're gusty and slightly stupid. Following me down there like that, gusty and stupid."
"Give me my necklace back," Vesta demanded.
"Why? It's just a necklace," said the Zora.
"It was my mother's," Vesta answered. She missed her mother; Vesta was sure she was dead because of Ganondorf, but she wasn't absolutely sure. That's why she hated him so much.
"Oh, do you miss mommy?" the Zora mocked.
"Don't you dare mock me. My mother is dead because of Ganondorf," Vesta replied. She could feel tears well in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She didn't want to seem weak in front of a complete stranger.
"Oh, something we have in common," the Zora responded. He cleaned the necklace off and tossed it to Vesta. "I guess you're not half-bad, for a Gerudo."
"Gee, thanks."
"By the way, what's your name?" the Zora asked.
"Vesta. Yours?"
"Shale." Vesta whistled and her horse came over; she jumped on without any problem. "Impressive."
"Get out of here," said Vesta.
"No, you get out of here." Shale replied.
Vesta rolled her eyes. After a moment Shale was gone. Vesta kicked Sand Storm's sides. Her horse whipped her head around and nipped Vesta's foot. "Sorry girl, I'm just annoyed. Come on, let's go home."
~Several hours later~
Finally Vesta arrived back in Gerudo Valley.
"Vesta!"
She looked from the direction of the voice. It was Lady Nabooru. "Yes my lady."
"Come up to my quarters, now please," said Lady Nabooru.
Vesta sighed and jumped of Sand Storm.
"You best go, Lady Nabooru doesn't like to be kept waiting, and you know she doesn't like anyone coming back alone. Best of luck to you sister." The Gerudo grabbed Sand Storm's reigns and led her off.
Vesta went up to Lady Nabooru's quarters and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came Lady Nabooru's voice from inside.
Vesta opened the door and when she entered she bowed.
"Why did you come back alone? I thought you went with your sisters," Lady Nabooru said.
"I thought they were back already," Vesta replied. She figured that after what she had observed that they would be back early.
"They're due back later today or even tonight, you should know that," Lady Nabooru responded.
"I became bored," Vesta said. She had to admit her fault; Nabooru wasn't going to give her a choice, so it was better to tell the truth up front.
"Being bored is not an excuse for leaving your sisters," Lady Nabooru reprimanded.
"I know, I'm sorry, but I did do a favor on my way back," Vesta responded.
"What?" Lady Nabooru asked.
"I checked out Lake Hylia," Vesta answered.
"Oh, and how was everything?" Lady Nabooru questioned. She seemed quite surprised that Vesta went out of her way to check on things at Lake Hylia.
"Fine," Vesta said, an slight annoyed tone in her voice.
"If you think I'm not going to catch your annoyed tone, you're wrong," Lady Nabooru replied with a slight laugh.
"I just ran into somebody there, that's all," Vesta responded.
"A Hylian?" Lady Nabooru inquired.
"Worse," Vesta said.
"A monster?" Lady Nabooru enquired.
"Worse," Vesta repeated.
"Vesta, nothing is worse than a monster. What was it?" Lady Nabooru replied.
"A Zora. I hate them," Vesta responded as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Lady Nabooru chuckled. "They can be annoying sometimes."
"You don't know the half of it," Vesta said.
"Tell me all about it." Vesta told Lady Nabooru everything that happened on her trip to Lake Hylia. "Well, don't let one person change your view of an entire race. That would be like saying you hate Gerudos, all because of Cayra. Perhaps he has a crush on you."
"No! Never in a million years! That's just gross!" Vesta exclaimed.
"Would you rather kiss Ganondorf's feet?" Lady Nabooru asked.
"Let's not get carried away my lady," Vesta answered.
"You know, you remind me a lot of your mother," said Lady Nabooru. Vesta cracked a small, but sad, smile. "Why don't you take the rest of the day off? Do something you enjoy," Lady Nabooru suggested.
"You would really allow me to do that?" Vesta questioned.
"I know you have been trying to prove yourself. You've been working hard, continue to do so, and it will pay off. Can I entrust you with a secret, one that my counsel doesn't even know yet?" Lady Nabooru replied.
"Yes, of course," Vesta answered as she nodded. She was flattered that Nabooru would share a secret with her.
"The line is continuing," Lady Nabooru said. Vesta tilted her head in confusion.
"My line. A few months ago I went on a private trip, and I found a Hylian man, and now I'm with child. I haven't told my counsel yet because I know they'll lock me away until my daughter is born."
"Congratulations," Vesta said, even though it came out more like a question.
"How about a simple archery session, provided by yours truly?" Lady Nabooru replied.
"Really?" Vesta asked.
"Yes, and if you can prove yourself within the next year, perhaps I will have to replace a counsel member," Lady Nabooru answered.
"Really?" Vesta repeated. That would be an amazing position.
"But you have to earn it," Lady Nabooru said.
"Yes, of course, I understand," Vesta responded.
"Come on, let's go."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and please remember to review. Thanks to those who have read the story so far.
Forest Princess
