::Picks up story and shakes out dust:: hmm…what an interesting concept…I wonder who wrote it…j/k! I know, it's been at least over a month since I worked on this. But I decided to work on my actually serious stories for once, and worked on this! Please r+r!

Chapter 8

The next few days were the busiest I had ever experienced. The next morning I found I had regained the ability to walk, and Malon put me to work folding the clothes and putting them into our haversacks. Malon had given me some tunics and a sort of pant-like leggings. That morning Link had left for the village called Kakariko to pick up supplies, like food, weapons, and some other odds and ends we might need. I thought that Talon would protest against our leaving, or at least Malon doing so, but it was quite the contrary. He seemed to think that no wrong could happen to me or Malon if Link was with us. As Malon explained later that it was because Link had rescued her, the ranch, and had defeated Ingo in one fell swoop. The next day Malon tried me on riding. By then I was almost normal, except that my energy was lower and I was quicker to weaken. Malon picked out a fairly large gray that had white spots on it's legs and head. The horse's name was Gaia, which Malon said was because she was so fun-loving and cheerful.

"She's also the fastest without dropping her rider, if they aren't that experienced. If you were better at riding, I'd try probably Bane," She had said, gesturing to a black stallion with brown mane and tail. "He's faster, but harder to stay onto." She added.

"Who are you going to ride?" I asked, watching the horses gallop around the corral.

"Alaria, the white one over there. She's my favorite, aside from Epona. That's who Link is going to ride, of course." I looked at Alaria. She was pure white, almost silver in the sun. She was tall and sleek, as bright as fresh snow in the sunlight. If she had a horn on her head, she would have been the exact replica of a unicorn as seen in most of the movies and books on the subject.

The next day Link came back, bringing two swords (he already had the master sword) and three sets of bows and arrows. The first thing he tried me on was the bow and arrow set, which I was glad about. Archery was the one sport I really excelled at back home. I enjoyed watching his face as I hit three bulls' eyes in a row. Deciding I didn't really need any more practice with that, he tried me on the sword, which I didn't do so well at. Link taught me the basic moves of thrust and parry, deciding I would pick up the rest on the trip. The idea that I would actually have to use the weapons on another living creature chilled me. My grandpa told many stories about World War Two, and the sensation of knowing that you had killed someone who probably had family back home, someone who might have a wife and kids who would never see them again, all because of you. And how the worst part was, you were glad it was them, not you. The feeling of selfishness, your traitorous mind telling you that as long as you were alive, it didn't matter who was dead because of it. I told Link about it, and asked him if he got that feeling. I almost wished I hadn't.

"More then you know." He said, a dark look coming into his eyes. I felt the same chill come over me. Even the bright sunlight seemed to dim in response to my mood. I almost regretted making the rash decision to come, but not enough to turn back. My mother always had said I was too stubborn for my own good. I hoped that whoever was responsible for my parents death had the feeling that Link and my grandfather had. I also hoped that they were suffering from it, then took the thought back. I didn't want to become as bad as them.

The next morning we got up early, barely before dawn. We checked to make sure that everything was packed, ate a swift breakfast of a sort of soup and more Lon Lon milk, then climbed on our horses and left Lon Lon Ranch. We traveled at a cross somewhere between a canter and trot, slow enough to relax relatively but fast enough to have to be careful. As we traveled, Link and Malon explained the names of the various places in Hyrule.

"Do you see those steps across the river? That leads to Kakariko Village. That leads to Death Mountain, where the Gorons live." Link said, pointing to a set of stone stairs.

"What do Gorons look like?" I asked.

"Their bigger then the average Hylian, but smaller then a horse. They look like a boulder when their curled up, which isn't that strange since they eat rocks." Malon said.

"They eat rocks? Wow," I replied, patting Gaia's head. In turn, I told my two companions about New York and the United States. The concept of electricity baffled them, and decided it must be a form of magic. They also were confused of the idea of a president, not a king.

"What's the difference between a president and a king?" Asked Malon, confused.

"Well, a king first of all is born into the position. A president has to be elected by the people of the United States." I explained.

"So, basically the people run the country," Asked Link, trying to fathom what I was trying to explain. I probably was the worst person in the world to be explaining this, I had little to no interest in politics.

"Well, no, once the president is elected, they pretty much are in control." I said, starting to get a little confused myself.

"So, once the president is elected, he has total control for life?" Asked Link.

"No, they only have four years in which they have the position, then they have to get re-elected, but after they're second term they can't be elected again."

"Couldn't they just make a law that says that they are president for life?" Asked Malon.

"No, because in order to make a law, they have to check it with Congress I think," I replied. I was definitely not the right person to explain this.

"So Congress is in control…" Ventured Malon.

"No, the president is…I think…" I said haltingly.

"Who is in control, then?" Asked Link, scratching his head.

"I think it's a sort of co-ruling kind of thing…" I tried.

"I say that having Royalty is much easier." Malon declared. We decided to drop the subject. Instead, Malon and Link taught me about the much easier religion of Hyrule, about the three Godesses Din, Farore, and Nayru, and how they created Hyrule and the Triforce. My two companions also filled me in about most of the geography and wildlife of it Hyrule too. I learned more that day then any given week that I was in school. That night we set up camp in a small grove of what looked like pine trees, and ate a simple dinner of more bread and some sort of fruit that looked a lot like an apple, but tasted more like noodles then anything else. I was tired and stiff from riding all day, and fell asleep almost at once. What seemed like only a few minutes later, a sharp sound near my head woke me up. My first instinct was to jump up or have done something to let whoever or whatever it was know that I was here and awake. Thankfully, instead of jumping, I froze and cautiously opened my eyes. Then I screamed.

I am getting SO horrible at cliffhangers, but if ya want more ya gots ta r+r!!!