The great hall of the cavern looks even grander with the lack of Gorons, who had all curled up to sleep. Laurel admires the curious spiralling roof; there is an opening at the top, and the stars glitter far above the underground city. He reaches the entrance hall and turns left into the darkened stables.

The whole place stinks. Laurel's nose shrivels at the stench as he spots the vacant space beside Aurarius.

I was wondering when you were going to show up! he brays impatiently. That mare and her mistress went for a midnight jaunt!

"So we'll follow them." Laurel says firmly as he unties the reigns from the wooden post. "Come on."

Soon, Laurel and Aurarius are standing outside under the serene night sky. They spot the silhouette of a horse attempting to ascend the sharp gradient of the mountainside. Aurarius trot warily over to find Folia and her mistress looking exhausted and frustrated.

Folia's head turns and her eyes roll. What do you want?

Her mistress is alerted by her neigh and is frightened by their presence. "Who are you? What you are doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same question." Laurel sneers.

"My business is not your business." she spits with a curled lip, and continues to whip the reigns of her horse.

"I came to thank you..." Laurel begins. "For saving me from the landslide..."

"I didn't save you!" she snorts. "I saved myself, and you copied!"

"Can I at least ask your name?"

The rider groans and pushes her black fringe aside. "If it means you'll leave me be...my name is Ruby."

"I'm Laurel; Commanding Knight of-"

"I don't want a conversation!" Ruby hisses. "Can't you see I'm trying to get away from you?"

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Laurel gazes up at the mountain. "There aren't any flags..."

"I know this isn't the right way! But those damn Gorons have sealed off the path until tomorrow!" Her rage cools to a defeated sigh. "I guess they don't want anybody to win this race..." She glances up and sees Laurel's eyes are still fixed on her. "What?"

"That's your secret, isn't it? You never rest. You just go on and on, without stopping."

Ruby smirks sarcastically. "You've got me all figured out. I already know who you are. They were all talking about you back at the Rusty Pick Inn, calling you 'The Gold Knight'...like you were something special."

Laurel blushes with overwhelming modesty. "Look, you're not getting anywhere out here. Why don't you just give up?"

Folia steps forward so she stands face-to-face with Laurel. Ruby leans over the reigns and snarls at him. "I don't give up. I'm gonna win this race and prove to everyone that you're nothing special. See you at the second trial, loser."

She whips the reigns and sends Folia strutting back towards the Caverns. Laurel stands in total bewilderment beneath the moonlit mountainside.

That's it. Aurarius growls. Nothing is going to stop us from now. We are going to win this race.