Link and Zelda walked around Hateno Village hand in hand as they explored what it had to offer. Purah had agreed to watch their horses as they explored the village, so they left Luna and Toffa at the top of the hill with her. They finally came to a small wooden bridge on the edge of the town, and Link immediately noticed a lit cooking pot under a large tree. It sat next to an almost completely demolished house.

"Hey Ari, I should probably stock up on some more meals. There's a lit cooking pot up there. I know we need to get to Zora's Domain as soon as we can, and we're running short on time. Do you mind if I go do that while you explore the shops and buy supplies? Let's meet outside that dye shop we saw earlier in…let's say one hour?"

"Sure Link, I can do that." She kissed Link on the cheek and headed toward the shops while Link walked closer to the cooking pot.

Zelda entered the general store, East Wind, and was greeted by an older Hylian gentleman.

"Welcome to East Wind. Please let me know if you need any assistance." She thanked the man and roamed the small store to see what they had to offer, and to the man's surprise, she bought everything in the store, including the entire stock of Bomb arrows. The man thanked her, staring at her wide-eyed as she left the store with her many bags in tow. I'd better get back to Link. I need to put all of this in the slate.

She walked to the area where she left him on the wooden bridge, and she was surprised to see Link talking with a nearly bald man with gray sideburns. He had his back to her and was wearing brightly-colored clothing. Link suddenly saw her approaching, and he seemed startled.

"Karson!" The man suddenly shouted. Another man she didn't notice who was sitting by the filled cooking pot suddenly stood up.

"Are we studs of studwork?" the vibrantly dressed man asked.

Karson replied, "Darn tootin' we are!" The two of them suddenly disappeared across the bridge and out of sight while Zelda stifled a giggle.

"Hey Ari…I didn't expect you back so soon, but let me help you with those." Link ran over to her and grabbed the bags, placing each item in the Sheikah slate inventory.

"Thanks for getting all this stuff! We'll be well-stocked for our journey to Zora's Domain." He was trying not to look her in the eye, and she could tell.

"Of course, Link. Why are you acting so strange?"

"Me? Oh…um…listen. I need to talk to you. I've sort of…made a big decision without talking about it with you first..."

Zelda gave him a look. "What did you do, Link?"

He hung his head. "I might have...bought us a house."

"WHAT?! She tried to hide her elation, and she did well enough. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Hear me out, Ari. I saw those carpenters demolishing this house. The owner of the company, Bolson, and his employee Karson from Bolson Construction were sitting down by the fire and made small talk with me. He said he saw me walking around town with you, and said we…make a cute couple."

Link was blushing now, and Zelda was waiting to hear the rest of the story. She could hardly contain her excitement, but she expertly acted otherwise.

"Continue. This better be good, Link."

His eyes widened. "Anyway, he then yelled at his workers to stop destroying the house, which to me was silly because it was already practically down to the foundation. But he told me he would make me an offer I couldn't refuse. He said if I collected 30 bundles of wood for him, he would rebuild the house, and the entire place and the whole big plot of land it's on is ours. With the caveat that I pay him 3000 rupees. He even said he'd throw in some furniture and other interior features. And it was all because it made him so happy to see such a beautiful couple. He said a house with land like that is worth ten times that amount."

Zelda could hardly believe her ears!

"Wait, 3000 rupees?! That's nearly all we have left now!" That really is an offer that can't be refused.

"I know, I'm sorry. He said we didn't have to pay it all right away and he'd draw up a loan for us. I hope you're not too upset with me. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first. But he needed an answer and I said yes without really thinking."

Zelda silently walked closer to Link and stood nearly as close to him as she did when they danced on Hateno Tower. She looked up into his gorgeous aqua blue eyes and nearly kissed him, but she managed to hold herself back, as badly as she wanted to.

"Link... I love it. If they finish in time it will give us a place to sleep…just…maybe ask if they can put in two separate beds? I'd like to try to take this a little slower than we have been." She really didn't, but she managed to be convincing.

"Of course, Ari." He sounded disappointed, and she tried to ignore it.

"Thank you, Link. This is wonderful!"

His sigh of relief was audible, and he hugged her. "I'm so glad you're not angry. I didn't want to make you feel like I was pushing you into anything. I know living in the same house is a big step..."

"I wouldn't want to live with anyone else." She kissed him sweetly on the cheek, and he blushed. "Just remember to have Bolson Construction put an extra bed in for us."

"Of course. I'll make sure to tell him."

"Did you already get the wood for him? I can help with that."

"I gave him a few bundles of wood I already had, but there's a forest just down the hill that has plenty of trees I could cut down. If you wanted to gather it into the slate while I chop down trees, it would save us some time."

The two of them made their way down the hill to the nearby forest, and they made quick work of cutting down trees and gathering the rest of the bundles of wood needed for Bolson. They finished cooking their meals at the cooking pot, using many of the ingredients Zelda just bought at the general store, and Zelda made a few elixirs. Link saw Bolson and Karson approach again, and he took the bundles from the slate inventory.

"I see you got the wood! That tells me you're serious about this. Thanks, my man!" Bolson patted Link's back. "And who is this beautiful lady?"

"I'm Ari. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Bolson, and that studly man right here is Karson. It's nice to meet you, Ari. I was telling Link here you two are a beautiful couple, and congratulations on the house. It's not much of a house yet, but don't you worry your pretty little head. You don't even have to say it! 'Oh waah, I just bought a house and it's totally torn down and depressing!' We will have it back in tip-top shape in no time!" Bolson was grinning at her and dancing.

Zelda giggled. "Thank you, but there really is no rush, Bolson. We're heading out of the village soon, anyway."

"Ari, if I finish the shrine here in the village, we can travel back here easily to sleep at night, once it looks more like a house," Link whispered. Her eyes widened at the realization. That meant no more camping in the wilderness at night!

Link suddenly looked up at Bolson. "Would you mind putting two beds in the bedroom?" Link asked. Bolson looked at Link like had three heads and sighed. "Uh…if that's really what you want."

He eyed Zelda questioningly, and she nodded in agreement, and Bolson sighed again, looking sad.

"Thanks!" Zelda quickly answered.

"KARSON! We are ON!" Bolson shouted, then suddenly snapped his head back toward Link and Zelda. "Oh right. Here's that loan! I just need your dazzling signatures."

Zelda and Link both signed their names at the bottom of the document after carefully reading it and handing over a handful of rupees as a down payment.

"You two have fun in the village before you set off on your adventure. Don't be a stranger!" Bolson called as they walked away.

"I should probably get those shrines in the village, Ari. Were you finished with your shopping? You could do that while I get the shrines."

"Actually, I was hoping we could go together to the shrine, and maybe we could visit the armor shop on the way out. I've also been meaning to ask you something. I've been curious about what's inside the shrines. Would it be okay if I went with you into one?"

"I'm honestly not sure, Ari. The creepy skeleton guys may not like that!"

"Creepy skeleton guys? Oh, count me in!" Zelda said, playfully.

A grin crossed Link's face. "I don't know if you'll be able to get into one, but we can certainly try!"

Zelda's heart was pounding. She had been wanting to see what was in those shrines for so long!

They were interrupted by a small child tugging on Link's tunic as they walked through the main part of the village. "Hi, Mister! You're the Chosen One, right?"

Not here, too. He dropped down to the child's level on one knee and smiled kindly. "Yes, that would be me."

"My name is Nebb. You must be pretty strong if you're the Chosen One! Are you strong or what?"

"Well, yes, I suppose you could say that," Link said, humbly.

"I bet you can use all sorts of different weapons, right?"

"Yes, that's true."

"Do you wanna help a kid's dream come true? When my gramps was alive, he loved weapons, but he never got to see all the ones he wanted. Do you have a Traveler's Sword? If you show me I can tell gramps all about it when I see him again!"

Link grinned at the small child and took his Sheikah slate from his hip.

"Watch this, Nebb." A Traveler's Sword instantly appeared in his hands, and Nebb's eyes were huge.

"You are so amazing, Chosen One! Thank you for showing me!" Nebb immediately ran off, and Zelda smiled at Link, who was putting his Traveler's Sword back into the inventory, then turned toward her.

"We should probably get to those shrines, Ari." They continued to the Myahm Agana shrine, which was conveniently close to the wooden bridge leading to their home in Hateno.

Ari stepped onto the platform of the shrine with Link, and suddenly they heard an ancient voice call to them from inside the shrine.

"Yoo-hoo!"

Link and Zelda looked at each other.

"Yes, you!"

"Who are you?" Zelda asked.

"I am Myahm Agana, of course. I am a monk. I regret to inform you that these shrines are only accessible to the Chosen One. I'm sorry, but you must step off the platform."

Link whispered to her. "That's the creepy skeleton guy. We'd better not make him mad."

"Creepy? Who are you calling creepy? Well, I suppose I don't blame you, since you're still made of flesh and bone. Ahem. Young lady, listen to him. He is wise. If you make me mad…I just might…um…haunt you!"

"No hauntings will be necessary. I understand." Zelda was disappointed, but she realized the shrines were meant for Link, and there was little point in arguing with an ancient monk. She waited for Link to get the Spirit Orb, and they continued on to the armor shop.

Zelda bought a set of Soldier's armor for Link from the clothing and armor shop. She insisted he wear it instead of the Stealth armor, and he reluctantly changed into it in their dressing room. He had to admit, he felt much more protected in it for their journey to Zora's Domain.

Link and Zelda started up the hill to say goodbye to Purah, who was feeding Luna and Toffa a few apples as they approached.

"Linky! And Ari!"

"Hi, Purah. We're heading out of the village now. Thanks for watching our horses for us!"

"No problemo! You two be careful out there. I'd better see you back in one piece!"

"That is the plan, Purah," Link said, grinning.

They climbed atop their horses and galloped together down the large hill. Suddenly, they heard the familiar child's voice of Nebb calling to them.

"Hey Mister!" he shouted.

They slowed their horses and dismounted.

"Hey kid, we're on our way out. Is something wrong?" Link asked. Nebb looked as if he was about to cry.

"I heard some travelers talking and they said the dragon goddess Naydra is in trouble!"

"Dragon goddess?" Link looked visibly confused, and Zelda's heart leapt at the mention of a dragon.

"Yes, they said she's on Mount Lanayru by the Spring of Wisdom and she's covered in black goo and creepy orange eyes!"

Link gave him another confused look, not sure what to think. Dragons? This kid must have an overactive imagination.

Zelda saw the disbelief on his face. "Link, the dragons are real. I've seen one on my travels. They haven't been seen in this Realm since ancient times, but they started showing up around the time you awakened. When I was at Riverside Stable, Nyla showed me the dragon god Farosh through her scope. He was soaring in the skies above Lake Hylia. I never thought the legends were actually true, but now that I've seen a dragon with my own eyes, I think we should listen to this boy," Zelda explained.

Link's eyes widened. "That's amazing, Ari! I would love to see a dragon."

Nebb's voice was desperate. "She needs help! If she's covered in that awful stuff like those travelers said! It's the same black stuff that Hyrule Castle is covered in! My daddy says you never, ever want to touch it! But since you're so brave, I knew I had to come tell you!"

Link sighed and turned to Zelda. "We really should get to Zora's Domain, but if it's that urgent, we should probably investigate. What do you think, Ari?"

She already had her paper map out and was studying it. "I think so too, Link, but looking over the map it appears that we have a slight problem. We won't be able to take Luna and Toffa with us for a while, since the terrain is very mountainous between here and the Spring of Wisdom."

"Are there any stables nearby?"

"Not really. We'd have to go all the way back to Dueling Peaks. We could go back to Kakariko Village, but that's a lot of backtracking," Zelda said sadly as she looked at her map. Nebb was still there, and he tugged on Link's tunic.

"Excuse me, my daddy runs a small private stable here in Hateno Village."

"That's great, Nebb! Would you mind taking us to him?" Link asked.

"Sure thing, mister! You made my dream come true, after all!"

He led them to one of the homes in the village with a barn beside it, and a middle-aged older Hylian man answered. Nebb immediately said goodbye and ran off to play.

"May I help you?"

"Hi, your son just told us you run a small private stable here. We need to get our horses to Foothills Stable, but we need to hire someone to do it for us. Is there any way you can help?" Zelda asked hopefully.

"Miss, I don't mean to be rude, but that's what horse fast travel is for."

Zelda stared. "Horse fast travel?" It sounded like the travel gates for the shrines and towers, but she knew those didn't work on animals.

The man chuckled. "Where have you been the last thirty years? Stables have the capability to fast travel your horse to any stable you wish. It costs a pretty rupee, 300 per horse, but they will send your horse and its paperwork unharmed to any stable in Hyrule instantaneously."

Zelda couldn't believe her ears! That had to be Sheikah technology! That must have been Purah's doing!

"That's incredible!" She shouted, a little too loudly. "Sorry, I'm new to this. Can we please have our horses fast-traveled to Foothills Stable?"

"Yes ma'am. It'll cost you though. For both horses that will be 600 rupees."

She held two gold rupees out to the man's hand, and he stared at her in shock.

"Uh, thanks, Miss. Just remove anything from your horses you want to keep with you and I'll lead you to the fast travel platform."

"I wonder where these are at the other stables. I've never seen one before!" she said to Link.

The man heard her. "They aren't usually this visible to the public. The areas are kept underground as a security measure. They're only accessible by the owners, mine included."

I'll have to ask Ember and Nyla about this the next time we see them!

"My private stable was the testing grounds for the technology since the one who invented it lives here in the village on top of that big hill, so I got stuck with it out here. Small price to pay though. It sure comes in handy!"

So it was Purah! Zelda thought.

They walked Luna and Toffa around to where the man had shown them, and he stepped up to a pedestal that looked similar to the pedestals found in the towers and shrine entryways. Instead of where the Sheikah slate would be, there was a flat screen that allowed the owner to select the horse's destination by stable name. They watched as he selected "Foothills Stable" from the list.

"How does it send the paperwork?" Zelda asked. As far as she knew, her paperwork was still at Riverside and Link's was at Dueling Peaks, where they first registered their horses.

"When the owner files the paperwork it is automatically attached to your horse. I'm not too familiar with exactly how it all works."

Zelda led Toffa up to the platform, rubbed his nose, and said goodbye.

Zelda and Link watched, amazed, as Toffa instantly dematerialized, similar to the way items disappeared into the Sheikah slate inventory. Link fought the urge to look in his inventory for a box labeled "Toffa."

The man motioned them over to look at the screen. A live moving picture of Toffa arriving safely at another travel gate at Foothills Stable appeared on the screen.

"Incredible! I've never seen a moving picture before!" Zelda shouted.

"Um, okay. You really must have been living under a rock then," the man commented, grinning.

You have no idea. She smiled politely, ignoring his comment.

Link did the same with Luna and watched as she safely joined Toffa at Foothills Stable. They both were led above ground to the barn, happily awaiting the time when their owners would return to them.

"I had no clue that technology existed." Zelda could only stare, wide-eyed.

Link gave her a look and grinned. "Ari, you're a traveling nomad and you just found this out?"

She blushed. "I just tamed my first horse in...ages, cut me some slack!" They both laughed as they stopped at the Great Ton Pu Inn for another night of rest before their journey to the Spring of Wisdom.